Abstract: A tape scanning assembly including a fixed drum and a coaxially mounted rotating drum defining a gap therebetween, with the tape wrapped in a helical path around the drums and across the gap, the rotating drum being driven to produce a pressurized gas bearing film between the tape and drums, with the bearing film being vented by the gap to tend to produce a variable film thickness gradient on the upstream side of the gap; the assembly is provided with venting means such as relieved portions or grooves on the rotating drum to reduce said gradient and to control the film thickness upstream from the gap.

Abstract: This is a magnetic tape transport primarily for the automatic threading and replay of cassette-mounted tapes that were originally produced upon the same transport or upon a different recording transport having a single rotating head and guide around which the tape is wrapped in a substantially 360-degree omega path. To be adapted for replay of the cassette-mounted tapes, the replay transport differs from the omega-wrap recording transport in having two diametrically opposite rotating heads and a substantially 180-degree tape wrap, and the heads rotate at half the rotational speed of the omega-wrap transport head. The threading means are of the differential air-pressure type.

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: In a camera mount of the type in which a front plate is attached to a lens which in turn is attached to the front of the camera and a base plate extends from the front plate beneath the camera to secure the camera bottom and to exert a predetermined supporting force upwardly on the camera to counter the moment of the camera on the lens, an interlock is provided to control the operation of the securing means to sequentially follow the operation of the supporting means in both securing and releasing modes.

Abstract: A camera mount of the type including a front plate having an attachment to the lens-mounting frontal side of a camera-and-lens assembly, and a bottom plate extending rearwardly, parallel to the lens axis, from the lower portion of the front plate for supporting the rearward portion of the camera and for mounting the camera on a base structure, characterized in that means are provided on the bottom plate for engaging and supporting the rearward portion of the camera and for countering the moment exerted by the weight of the camera about its attachment; and means are provided for clamping the camera to the bottom plate and to the supporting means thereof.

Abstract: A manually-operable joystick is mounted for universal pivoting motion as by means of spherical bearing and journal means and is biased toward a neutral position so as to return automatically thereto upon release of manual constraint.

Abstract: This invention is a mount to fit a portable camera for studio use. The mount has a vertical front plate to the rear side of which the front of the complete camera (less lens) is attached, without the need for any disassembly. From the front of the plate the studio lenses extend. A horizontal bottom plate extends from the lower rear portion of the front plate for attaching the mount to a standard tripod, or other base. A protective grille-cage assembly extends from the front and bottom plates to generally enclose the space to be occupied by the camera. Equipment particular to studio use is contained in a pair of side pods that are hinged to the grille members so as to be swung outwardly and downwardly for access to the camera. A studio view-finder and monitor is attached to various rearward grille members and is vertically adjustable by means of vertical racks formed on the grille members and manually conjointly operable through pinions contained in the view-finder and monitor assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette is provided with shielding means for the guide posts thereof, including a clip member of electrically-conducting material, for preventing build-up of static electrical charges and resultant clinging of the tape to the guide posts, when it is desired to pull the tape from the guide posts by vacuum pressure-differential apparatus, as for threading into a tape transport.

Abstract: A mount for holding and varying the position of a magnetic transducing head assembly comprises a pair of stiff but flexibly-hinged leaves arranged in a parallel-motion linkage. In application to a rotating head-mounting drum, the axis of each hinge is arranged to be parallel to the line of effective action of centrifugal force upon the movable portion of the mount, so as to neutralize the centrifugal force effect upon the movement of the linked leaves.

Abstract: A rotating transducing head drum that mounts a number of transducer heads for sweeping rotation across the surface of a record medium. The head mounts are either of the bimorph, i.e., laterally displaceable leaf type, or of a non-displaceable leaf type simulating the displaceable type; in either case the mounts are factory secured in substantially identical shoes and in precise predetermined dimensional relation to radially, axially and circumferentially facing gauge surfaces of the shoes. Mating gauge surfaces are factory formed on the drum. Thus, the heads with their shoes are interchangeable in the field without the need for field adjustments.

Abstract: A tape reel container of the flat-walled box type holding a reel-supporting tray. The periphery of the tray is formed with a downward and outwardly facing step confronting the side walls of the container, and the side walls are formed with inward and downwardly folding flaps engaging the tray step, so as to both retain and be retained by the tray.

Abstract: A tape reel container of the carton type having one open side for the insertion and withdrawal of a reel-holding insert. The insert has a first spine and two flaps bracketing the reel and holding it by means of two opposed spindles extending respectively from the flaps and into the reel hub openings; and a second spine and smaller flap is provided to close the open side of the carton, the smaller flap being easily withdrawn to identify the contents.

Abstract: In a system mounting a magnetic transducer on the end of a thin leaf for sweeping motion displacement laterally to a track on a record surface, the present invention utilizes elements arranged as reversely deflectable leaf portions so as to maintain the transducer in substantially undeviating (normal) orientation with respect to the record surface. In one embodiment, the cantilevered leaf is composed of inner and outer (inboard and outboard) piezoelectric ("bimorph") bender elements having opposite polarizations and being cross-wired to produce the reverse deflections desired. The electrodes of the elements may also be divided longitudinally and coupled to bias voltage sources to provide controlled correction of azimuth error.

Abstract: A highly compact and functional professional audio magnetic tape transport provides a simple, symmetrical tape path including a pair of reels positioned in side-by-side relationship, a pair of large, equal diameter rollers positioned in side-by-side relationship below the reels, a pair of buffer loop tape tension arms positioned between the rollers and reels to receive tape directly from the reels along a straight tape line and without any intervening guide, and a transducer assembly positioned in frictional engagement with the tape along the tape path between the rollers. A capstan drive system is coupled to energize one of the rollers as a capstan to control tape motion along the tape path while reel servo systems energize the reels to maintain the tension arms at nominal central positions of rotation. Variations in tape tension with reel pack diameter are minimized and made self-equalizing by orienting the nominal arm positions perpendicular to tape direction for intermediate reel pack diameters.

Abstract: A dynamic brake for the supply reel motor of a tape transport. Upon power failure, the motor is coupled as a generator to supply current to a lamp, which functions as a substantially constant current load, and produces a substantially constant braking torque upon the supply reel.

Abstract: Body-carried equipment, such as a television camera, is supported on a mount that engages the body at a first level, such as the shoulder; and the mount has a forwardly extending "panning" arm for directional control. From the forward end of the arm, an adjustable brace assembly extends (e.g., downwardly) to engage the body at a second level (e.g., waist level) spaced vertically from the first level. Adjustments are provided for elevational angle, tilt and forward-rearward balance of the equipment (camera).

Abstract: A magnetic tape reel container, of the type having centered cover and bottom arbor means loosely impaling the hub of the reel, is provided with a manually rotatable locking key member mounted on the cover and projecting into keyhole and ward openings in the bottom arbor portion, the bits of the key member being arranged to engage cam ramps within the wards upon rotation to the closed and locked positions, where notches are provided in the cam ramps to secure the key bits; and a resiliently deformable ring is mounted between the arbor portions to load the bits against removal from the notches.

Abstract: A tape drive that includes a capstan and tachometer mounted on the same shaft with a printed circuit motor. The capstan and tachometer are mounted to be accurately concentric with one another and the tachometer is sensed at the same angular position as the point of tangential engagement of tape and capstan and at the same radius, and controls the peripheral velocity of the capstan there so that even though the capstan may be eccentric relative to the true motor turning center, the tape speed is constant. The armature disc of the motor is accurately mounted in a plane normal to the shaft, and upon a cushioning element, to reduce brush contact errors.

Abstract: To slow down the action of a solenoid for use in moving delicate mechanisms, or other time-delay uses, the solenoid frame is provided with a closed end, vented only by a restricted orifice, and the solenoid plunger is fitted with a pressure seal to ensure venting of trapped air only through the restricted orifice.