Tape Record Patents (Class 360/83)
  • Patent number: 10163462
    Abstract: An exemplary write method disclosed herein includes receiving a request to write data to a consecutive sequence of logical block addresses (LBAs) that is the mapped to a non-contiguous sequence of data tracks on a storage medium, and writing the data of the consecutive sequence of LBAs to a non-contiguous sequence of data tracks on the storage medium and according to a consecutive track order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: David Andrew Rice, Andrew Michael Kowles, Harry Tiotantra, Ricardo Lim Soon Lian
  • Patent number: 8982492
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for adjusting tension in a tape media to counter tape dimensional stability (TDS) errors in a tape media. A determination is made of whether to adjust tension of the tape media based on a detected error rate of reading at least one of the tracks. The tension of the tape media is adjusted in response to determining to adjust the tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan X. Bui, Reed A. Hancock, Kevin B. Judd
  • Patent number: 8976479
    Abstract: A method for writing data to a tape storage medium includes: writing first user data to a first physical region (11) of the tape storage medium (1) in a first write mode, writing second user data to a second physical region (12) of the tape storage medium (1) in a second write mode, wherein the second write mode differs from the first write mode. An apparatus for writing data to a tape storage medium, a tape storage medium, a tape cartridge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Cideciyan, Simeon Furrer
  • Publication number: 20140362465
    Abstract: An electrically isolated tape guide that includes a tape roller having spaced apart flanges extending out from the tape roller for passing magnetic tape between the flanges, and an electrically non-conductive pin having a first end coupled to a center opening of the tape roller to allow the tape roller to rotate about the pin and a second end for coupling to a chassis of a tape drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: James C. Anderson, Jeffrey S. McAllister, Robert C. Aaron, Catherine Dinhobi
  • Patent number: 8896948
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of an invention for customizing the range of acceptable write conditions to a tape of a tape cartridge that contracts or expands laterally based on environmental conditions. The tape drive utilizes servo information to determine if the tape has expanded or contracted from the nominal dimension and to determine the magnitude of the expansion or contraction. In the case of expansion, the magnitude of the determined expansion and the stored maximum amount of contraction must be below a predetermined threshold value to allow a write. In the case of contraction, the magnitude of the determined contraction and the stored magnitude of expansion must be below the same predetermined threshold value to allow a write. If the determined magnitude of contraction or expansion is greater than the stored magnitude of contraction or expansion, respectively, then the new extreme is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin R. Childers, Reed A. Hancock, Paul J. Seger
  • Patent number: 8873192
    Abstract: Techniques for operating tape heads are provided. In an example, a method includes detecting a potential at a sensor region, determining a target potential using a transfer function, and applying the target potential to an effector region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Brong, Richard Dee, Geoff Spratt, Mike Alan Holmberg, Robert Brummet
  • Patent number: 8711501
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of an invention for customizing the range of acceptable write conditions to a tape of a tape cartridge that contracts or expands laterally based on environmental conditions. The tape drive utilizes servo information to determine if the tape has expanded or contracted from the nominal dimension and to determine the magnitude of the expansion or contraction. In the case of expansion, the magnitude of the determined expansion and the stored maximum amount of contraction must be below a predetermined threshold value to allow a write. In the case of contraction, the magnitude of the determined contraction and the stored magnitude of expansion must be below the same predetermined threshold value to allow a write. If the determined magnitude of contraction or expansion is greater than the stored magnitude of contraction or expansion, respectively, then the new extreme is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin Ralph Childers, Reed Alan Hancock, Paul J. Seger
  • Patent number: 8054577
    Abstract: An integral recording head, for use in a linear tape drive system, includes a circumferentially grooved roller guide assembly and a recording head actuator assembly. The circumferential groove feature is incorporated on the surfaces of the roller guide assembly, and provides a substantial frictional contact force that acts to reduce the lateral motion, and further attenuates high frequency lateral disturbances of the magnetic tape. The reduced high frequency content of the lateral disturbances significantly improves the ability of the actuator to achieve a desired track following control. The grooved roller guide assembly is formed integrally of two solid cylindrical contact surfaces separated by a circumferential slot that accommodates the recording head actuator assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Howard Eaton, Glynda Williams Eaton, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8035919
    Abstract: A multi-channel thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements formed on the substrate, a closure fixed onto the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements, a protection film laminated on a whole area of a TBS of the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements and the closure, and many micro-grooves formed in a surface of the protection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Yari, Yasufumi Uno, Yuji Ito, Hideaki Sato, Nozomu Hachisuka
  • Publication number: 20110063752
    Abstract: A system and method for positioning a sensor relative to a storage medium. A system includes a first sensor and a second sensor arranged so that a point of a storage medium traverses each sensor at a different time. A processor is coupled to the sensors. The processor varies the timing of a sample representing a noise signal received from the sensors in accordance with medium velocity. The processor adjusts the position of the sensors based on the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Devekopment Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Donald J Fasen
  • Patent number: 7869692
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a recording and reproduction unit configured to record a serial moving image signal generated by the imaging unit as one cut on a recording medium during a period from an instruction to start photographing to an instruction to stop photographing, and to reproduce a moving image signal recorded on the recording medium, a mode setting unit configured to selectively setting one of a reproduction mode for reproducing a moving image signal recorded on the recording medium and a recording mode for recording a moving image signal on the recording medium, and a control unit configured to, responsive to an instruction to start reproduction in the reproduction mode, control the recording and reproduction unit to reproduce a moving image signal starting with a cut recorded first among a plurality of cuts recorded within a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masamine Maeda
  • Publication number: 20100149685
    Abstract: A multi-channel thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements formed on the substrate, a closure fixed onto the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements, a protection film laminated on a whole area of a TBS of the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements and the closure, and many micro-grooves formed in a surface of the protection film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji YARI, Yasufumi UNO, Yuji ITO, Hideaki SATO, Nozomu HACHISUKA
  • Publication number: 20100110582
    Abstract: A multi-channel thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a plurality of MR read head elements, a plurality of first resistive elements, and a plurality of second resistive elements. Each MR read head element includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an upper magnetic shield layer, and an MR layer arranged between the lower magnetic shield layer and the upper magnetic shield layer. Each first resistive element has a first resistance value. One ends of the plurality of first resistive elements are connected to the lower magnetic shield layers or the upper magnetic shield layers of the plurality of MR read head elements, respectively. Each second resistive element has a second resistance value that is higher than the first resistance value. One ends of the plurality of second resistive elements are commonly connected to the other ends of the plurality of first resistive elements. The other ends of the plurality of second resistive elements are grounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nozomu Hachisuka
  • Publication number: 20090002878
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized by the fact that a non-magnetic substrate 11, target members 12, and magnetic plates 21 are placed in parallel in a film-forming apparatus 10, a high frequency voltage is applied to the target members, the opposite polarities alternately occur at equal intervals on the surfaces of the magnetic plates, and plasma is produced near the target members to deposit a thin film on the non-magnetic substrate by sputtering. The present invention can greatly increase the track density and, accordingly, the surface recording density while maintaining the recording/reproduction properties equal to or better than that of the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Masahiro Oka
  • Publication number: 20080278845
    Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes a rotating drum unit for recording data to a magnetic tape of a tape cassette or reproducing data recorded to the magnetic tape, a tape guiding member for pulling the magnetic tape out from the tape cassette for forming a tape path, a tape loading member for winding the magnetic tape around the rotating drum unit. The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus further includes a tape guide moving mechanism having a driving force transmitting member configured to transmit a driving force, a supporting base configured to support the tape guiding member, a first arm member having one end rotatably connected to the supporting base via a first connecting pin, and a second arm member configured to connect the first arm part and the driving force transmitting part and configured to rotatably connect to the other end of the first arm member via a second connecting pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Hirofumi Asai, Takuro Negi, Ikuichiro Nawa, Morikazu Okada, Ryoichi Annen
  • Publication number: 20080266707
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a flexible circuit. In one embodiment, the flexible circuit bends on a curved surface to form a partial loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Paul W. Poorman, Lawrence A. Hansen, Marc R. Humann
  • Patent number: 7260884
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital betacam video tape machine is disclosed. The method includes providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums. The rotating read/write heads reading and writing digital information to and from a tape. The method further includes inserting air grooves in the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum. The air grooves are configured to reduce sticktion between the tape and the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum when the tape is moved around the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum. The method additional includes mounting an adjustable band to the outer peripheral surface of the lower drum. The adjustable band is configured to guide the tape around the drum assembly in accordance with helical scans when the tape is moved around the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Athan Corporation
    Inventors: George Athanasiou, Constantine Athanasiou
  • Patent number: 7256958
    Abstract: Disclosed is a loading gear supporting apparatus of a video cassette recorder which can assemble a loading gear supporting member which supports a pole base loading gear, a first loading gear, and a second loading gear to a deck more simply. To this end, a locking protrusion and a locking groove are respectively formed at the deck and the loading gear supporting member to elastically engage the locking protrusion to the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Pyo Hong
  • Patent number: 7190878
    Abstract: Original video data of a first format is edited. The first format video data has jitter frames (626) inserted therein and is displayed at a first frame rate. The original video data is read from a video tape recorder (301) in the first format and converted into a second format with no jitter frames, displayable at a second display rate. Time-code of the converted video data is related to time-code of the original video data so as to identify frame types for the converted video data. A portion (603-606) of the converted video data is modified to produce modified video data in the second format. New video data is generated in the first format by processing the modified video data. An edit processor is configured to replace an edit portion of the stored original data with the new data by defining an edit range with reference to the new data, selecting an edit field with reference to the frame type so as to initiate an edit on a data boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Autodesk Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Bolduc
  • Patent number: 7124973
    Abstract: A drive device to which a recording tape cartridge is loaded, and which can record information in a recording tape and playback information recorded in the recording tape, the drive device includes: a rotating shaft having a drive gear which meshes with the reel gear of the cartridge and rotates the reel of the cartridge; an operating member which pushes up the brake member of the cartridge to the reel rotation permitted position; and an adjusting mechanism which adjusts a projecting height of the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hiraguchi
  • Patent number: 7016597
    Abstract: An information recording medium for recording a real-time file containing real-time data in such a manner that the real-time data is continuously reproducible by a playback reference model, the real-time data including at least one of video data and audio data. The playback reference model includes: a pickup for reading the real-time data from the information recording medium; a buffer memory for temporarily storing the real-time data read by the pickup; and a decoder module for reading the real-time data from the buffer memory for processing. The information recording medium includes a volume space for at least recording in sectors a file containing data and file management information for managing the file. The real-time data is recorded in at least two real-time extents each of which is allocated in logically contiguous sectors within the volume space. An (i+1)th real-time extent among the at least two real-time extents is positioned at a position satisfying a real-time reproduction condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiho Gotoh, Hiroshi Ueda, Miyuki Sasaki, Yoshihisa Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6882498
    Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device of the present invention includes: a chassis included in a mechanism section; a first protruded guide for maintaining a horizontal position of a board-like element attached to the chassis with respect to a horizontal plane of the chassis, the first protruded guide being provided on the chassis; and an arm rotatable with respect to the chassis, the arm is positioned so as to be out of contact with the board-like element when the board-like element is placed on the chassis before attachment thereto, and the arm is rotated about a rotation support axis center thereof so as to move to a position where the arm presses a top surface of the board-like element so that a vertical position of the board-like element with respect to a horizontal plane of the chassis is maintained for attachment of the board-like element to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurumatani, Koichiro Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 6710968
    Abstract: A tape transport system includes two reels. Each reel has a pair of parallel flanges between which the tape is held. A tape head with a tape contact surface over read elements and write elements is positioned between the reels such that tape extends from one reel, over the contact surface, and to the other reel. The contact surface is curved so that tape is in contact with different regions of the contact surface based on the amount of tape on each reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Gary W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6553456
    Abstract: A library device, that is able to remote-actuate a recording/reproducing apparatus. The library device includes a recording/reproducing unit for recording or reproducing the information using a removable recording medium, a plurality of housing unit that is able to accommodate the recording medium therein, a transporting unit for transporting the recording medium between an optional housing unit in the housing unit and the recording/reproducing unit, and a control unit for controlling the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit. The control unit selects an operating mode of setting a control operation of permitting external terminal unit to perform the same control as that performed by the control unit or an operating mode of permitting the external terminal unit to perform control limited with respect to the control operation of the control unit, when the transporting unit and/or the recording/reproducing unit is controlled by the external terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tadokoro, Toru Yumine, Nobuhiro Tsurumaki, Masato Yokota
  • Publication number: 20020181144
    Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device of the present invention includes: a chassis included in a mechanism section; a first protruded guide for maintaining a horizontal position of a board-like element attached to the chassis with respect to a horizontal plane of the chassis, the first protruded guide being provided on the chassis; and an arm rotatable with respect to the chassis, the arm is positioned so as to be out of contact with the board-like element when the board-like element is placed on the chassis before attachment thereto, and the arm is rotated about a rotation support axis center thereof so as to move to a position where the arm presses a top surface of the board-like element so that a vertical position of the board-like element with respect to a horizontal plane of the chassis is maintained for attachment of the board-like element to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurumatani, Koichiro Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5669568
    Abstract: A brake device for magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, such as a slide loading type camera recorder. The supply reel brake unit includes a supply reel brake having an operating pin, and a mode switch gear having an operating protrusion pushing the operating pin in a tape running mode, thereby releasing the tape supply reel table. In addition, the supply reel brake unit may comprise a drive cam gear, a supply reel brake cooperating with the drive cam gear to selectively brake the tape supply reel table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Goo Kang, Seong Sik Kang, Sung Hoon Choi, Mun Chea Joung, Byoung Gyu Jang, Kye Yeon Ryu, Hyo Chong Yu, Sang Jig Lee
  • Patent number: 5663848
    Abstract: A magnetic tape drive for reading/writing data on magnetic tape in a cartridge of the type in which a driven roller in the cartridge moves tape past a read/write head in the drive has a spring clip which holds the motor plate of the tape drive motor on the chassis. The spring clip is secured on the chassis with a snap-on interference fit. The spring clip bears against the motor and also provides an electrical ground connection from chassis ground to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventor: Mark W. Perona
  • Patent number: 5445337
    Abstract: A traveling apparatus of a tape recorder uses a tension pole of a tension arm as a rotating shaft, and the tension pole is inserted in an impedance roller to simultaneously control change of tension of a tape, to adjust speed variation of the tape, and to eliminate the noise due to vibration of a tape-reel. By integrating the tension pole and the impedance roller, the number of components required is decreased, the manufacturing process is made simpler, and scaling down the size of products such as a camcorder to be compact and light is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seog Ha Kwon
  • Patent number: 5249089
    Abstract: A driving device for loading/unloading a tray for a digital audio tape in a tray type cassette apparatus of a digital audio tape player, which device enables to load/unload the tray by utilizing the existing capstan and loading motors without using a separate exclusive driving motor. The driving is arranged such that power may be intermittently transmitted from a transmission gear of the cassette loading apparatus through an intermediate gear, a bevel gear, an up-and-down gear, an input gear and the capstan motor to a cam gear depending upon upwardly and downward movements of the up-and-down gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Goldstar Alps Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun J. Maeng
  • Patent number: 5239432
    Abstract: A magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus which comprises a tape cassette mounting portion and a rotary head portion which are relatively movable toward to and separating from each other, the rotary head portion being provided with a recording/reproducing head which is adapted to project in the radial direction due to the centrifugal force of the rotation of the head, and the rotary head portion can approach relatively toward the tape cassette mounting portion on which the tape cassette is mounted, and the recording/reproducing head being projected by the centrifugal force contacts with the magnetic tape running within the tape cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 5062015
    Abstract: A digital audio tape cassette loading device includes an up-down holder assembled to an adjusting plate operatively associated with the brackets by a shaft, a first pin caulked into a cam lever inserted through an oblong hole of an opening lever, a second pin caulked into the cam lever inserted into a cam groove of a cam gear which has a horizontal movement region, a vertical movement region, and a marginal stroke region for adjusting in mode to match with a rack of a tray side plate for engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Goldstar Alps Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun J. Maeng
  • Patent number: 5027248
    Abstract: The present invention performs improvement in travelling characteristics of magnetic tapes and scanning chracteristics of magnetic heads by forming a tape running face which is made to run along a part of a course of a magnetic tape bent by a magnetic head to support the magnetic tape ranging over the full width, an opening which is located in the tape running face and made to run along an area of movement the magnetic head, and guide members for guiding the both edges of the magnetic tape to the both sides of the tape running face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4796111
    Abstract: The invention in one embodiment thereof employs separate and respective heads for disparate signal frequency bands. One head is kept in intimate contact with the recording medium to maximize the response to the higher frequency signal band; and the other head is vibrated relative to the surface of the recording medium, thereby to augment(d.phi./dt)and to improve the playback response to the lower frequency signal band. Since the two heads cannot reside physically at the same location, a suitable delay device is employed to bring the signals from the two heads into proper timed relationship, the outputs of the two heads being appropriately band-passed to reconstruct a complex signal composed of the two signal bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William W. French
  • Patent number: 4748528
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed having means for shunting demagnetization fields to prevent "magnetostrictive knockdown" of a signal recorded on an isotropic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Frederick J. Jeffers
  • Patent number: 4734806
    Abstract: A small-sized, multifunctioned micro cassette tape player has one motor and one solenoid and a drive plate connected to the solenoid for moving a head base and a pinch roller between engaged and retracted positions. The tape player has a cam mechanism which includes a cam plate having a stopper portion for engaging a control pin on the drive plate to hold the drive plate at an intermediate retracted position from the engaged position, when the solenoid is deenergized for the first time after being energized, for high speed cue, review, and erasure operations. The cam plate also has a displaceable guide portion for allowing the control pin to pass and the drive plate to return to the fully retracted position when the solenoid is again energized and deenergized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Komatsu
  • Patent number: 4647994
    Abstract: A miniaturized tape cartridge drive for data processors in accordance with the invention has as peripherally-enclosing main frame providing an access opening for insertion to a tape cartridge and structurally mounting flat, pancake-type drive motors for tape transport and head-positioning translation laterally with respect to the tape, for accessing any of a plurality of adjacent recording tracks on the tape, such motors being disposed in tandem with respect to the cartridge-admitting opening and having their output shafts pointing in opposite directions. The head-positioning motor drives a directly-coupled rotary cam, and a positioning arm extends between the cam and the transducer head to move the head in response to movement of the cam. The positioning arm is pivotally journaled in opposite sides of the main frame upon a transverse pivot axis disposed medially of the arm, such that the arm operates as a fulcrumed lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Irwin Magnetic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Irwin, Francis Lum, Michael L. Bolt, Steven E. Henke, Edmund L. Sokolik, John M. Chambors
  • Patent number: 4554604
    Abstract: A video signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a tape loading mechanism for loading a tape along a predetermined tape path when a recording or reproducing mode is adopted by drawing the tape outside a tape cassette and unloading the tape when a stop mode is adopted by unloading the tape into the tape cassette in a state accommodated within the tape cassette, a power source switch, a power source turned ON or OFF in response to the ON and OFF states of the power source switch, a tape travel control circuit for causing tape travel in a forward direction during the recording mode and stopping the tape travel after causing the tape to travel in a reverse direction for a predetermined time interval when the power source switch is turned OFF during the recording mode, and a circuit for turning OFF the power source in a state where the tape is substantially loaded by the tape loading mechanism when the tape stops after traveling in the reverse direction for the predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Koyama
  • Patent number: 4481551
    Abstract: In the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus disclosed, a loading arrangement displaces magnetic tape between a position where the tape's running path from a tape supply member to a take up member relative to a recording and reproducing arrangement makes it possible to record and reproduce and a position where such recording and reproduction is disabled. A transfer friction arrangement between a tape drive and the supply member or the take up member changes its frictional operation depending upon the tape running path controlled by the loading arrangement. According to a specific embodiment disclosed, the drive is shiftable between a direct direct mode when the tape is disabled from recording or playback and a slip torque transmission mode when the recording-playback is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaya Maeda
  • Patent number: 4381530
    Abstract: In a helical scan type video tape recorder, a tape guide is moved toward and away from a head drum of the recorder. The tape guide is reciprocated by a slider moved in a groove by a lever loosely connected to the slider. A stop member is provided for preventing the slider from moving beyond a limit, and a detector is provided to detect a position of the slider for controlling the lever. Spring means are connected to the lever for applying a predetermined pressure to the stop member when the slider is stopped by the stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Owada, Tamotsu Tominaga
  • Patent number: 4040108
    Abstract: A magnetic sheet or a magnetic slip with a magnetic tape or a magnetic coating on its back is driven intermittently by a sprocket wheel or a long roller. A rotating follower gives tension to the magnetic sheet. Between the follower and the drive roller, a magnetic head comes into sliding contact with the magnetic sheet when it stops for magnetic recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Nakata
  • Patent number: 4012789
    Abstract: An adaptor rests on top of a standing tape recorder and includes a pair of motorized capstans spaced apart on at least 101/2 inch centers for carrying 101/2 inch diameter tape reels which project tape through the head of the tape recorder. The adaptor includes a control box connected to the housing by a cable. In record and play modes, the motors of the adapter are energized to torque the capstans in opposite directions for taking up tape payed out by the head. Fast forward and rewind modes are also utilized which are stopped by a braking circuit responsive to a motion detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1977
    Inventor: Victor Leshkowitz