Abstract: A mounting assembly is provided for supporting an elongated flexible member, such as an electrical signal cable, connected between relatively movable termination points, for example, between a stationary frame and a mobile carriage. The mounting assembly comprises one or more track units each including a guide channel having one side opening toward an adjacent, generally parallel roller-supported belt. The flexible member is anchored at a first termination point generally at a longitudinally centered position within the channel and extends along the channel before rolling back upon itself through a turn of 180 degrees to contact the belt, with the channel-belt spacing being less than twice a natural radius of curvature for the flexible member whereby the belt applies a force against the flexible member in the region of the turn. The flexible member extends from the curved loop along the belt and is secured thereto at a second termination point.

Abstract: A composite door assembly for a magnetic tape cassette includes a hinge pin having a first torsion spring element at one end encapsulated in the molded door, a second torsion spring element disposed at an opposite end of the pin for mounting on the cassette, with the opposite ends of the hinge pin secured to the cassette to mount the door on the cassette, and with the first and second torsion spring elements biased to maintain the door in a closed position.

Abstract: A tape transport capable of receiving cassettes of varying sizes, one at the time for play, includes a cassette indexing mechanism capable of selectively positioning the spindles which engage the reels of an associated cassette at a selected distance corresponding to the reel-center-to-reel-center distance of the cassette. Mis-insertion apparatus associated with the transport provides that any cassette smaller than the cassette receiving opening in the transport will be protected against being improperly inserted into the transport.

Abstract: A closure device for a library storage box combines a hanger with a locking device for the closed storage box. A hinge structure for the device provides a first hinge portion on the box, connected by a flexible hinge to a second hinge carrying the hanger at its outer end. A latch on the second hinge portion engages a complementary detent on the first hinge portion to hold the box closed and to project the hanger to an engaging position for mounting on a suitable rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing ceramic parts which have a small bore relative to the outside diameter of the part.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer of the erasing type, in which the coil is pre-wound to achieve greater manufacturing economy; and in which for the same reason, and also for electromagnetic operating efficiency, the core is laminated with each lamination being of one-piece fabrication. However, the single transducing gap in the core is too small to permit threading the coil thereon. Therefore, the core is formed of flexible material so that the gap can be enlarged to accept the coil during assembly. Alternatively, the core can be fabricated initially with an enlarged gap, and the flexible core is then bent to provide a desired gap length after the coil is assembled thereon. A variational form of the invention has two erase gaps and one record-play gap with a separate coil therefor.

Abstract: A storage rack for use in a wall-mounted system, the storage rack including an array or horizontally aligned, generally equally spaced, generally parallel storage rail provided on a rectangular frame. Rack support brackets are provided behind the frame so that the frame can be mounted flush with the wall with the brackets displaced from a central horizontal access of the rack, so that a serial arrangement of storage racks, a first rack can be mounted on the wall top to bottom with a second rack mounted bottom to top so that the brackets of the first rack are so displaced from the bracket of the second rack as to support the second rack, with the arrangement of parallel storage rails so positioned as to continue the linear alignment of rails from one rack to the next.

Abstract: The improved tape guide mechanism includes a step in the surface of a scanning drum for a record/reproduce apparatus which moves an interface between a guide band of the apparatus and the surface of the scanning drum out of the tape path in a configuration which also minimizes tape buckling.

Abstract: A tilt-lock mechanism for a pivotable panel assembly incorporates a pivotable locking link biased into locking engagement with a curved cam surface on the panel assembly to lock the assembly at a selected tilted position. A slight force applied opposite the bias of the link releases the link to return the panel to an initial position.

Abstract: A tape transport capable of receiving cassettes of varying sizes, one at the time for play, includes a cassette indexing mechanism capable of selectively positioning the spindles which engage the reels of an associated cassette at a selected distance corresponding to the reel-center-to-reel-center distance of the cassette. Mis-insertion apparatus associated with the transport provides that any cassette smaller than the cassette receiving opening in the transport will be protected against being improperly inserted into the transport.

Abstract: A cart spot player having a tape library or bin structure, a series of tape transports in stacked alignment, and a cassette loading/unloading station as part of the bin structure; at one side of the player, input/output ports are provided for the bin structure, the tape transports and the cassette loading/unloading station for operator access; at the opposite side of the player, input/output ports are provided for the bin structure, the tape transports, and the cassette loading/unloading station for access thereto by a cassette transfer assembly moveable to access the player for the transport of a cassette from a first location to a second location remote from the first location and capable of mechanically loading the bin structure with the cassette input from the cassette loading/unloading station. Cassette sensing and cassette positioning means associated with the cassette loading/unloading station facilitate the cassette transfer process.

Abstract: A movable actuator supporting a stacked assembly of read/write heads for unitary movement adjacent respective disk surfaces of a disk drive mechanism, the movable actuator incorporating a series of secondary actuators, one for each head, each secondary actuator including a bimorph member with piezoelectric properties, and capable of extremely precise movements for secondary positioning.

Abstract: A tape transport capable of receiving cassettes of varying sizes, one at the time for play, includes a cassette indexing mechanism capable of selectively positioning the spindles which engage the reels of an associated cassette at a selected distance corresponding to the reel-center-to-reel-center distance of the cassette. Mis-insertion apparatus associated with the transport provides that any cassette smaller than the cassette receiving opening in the transport will be protected against being improperly inserted into the transport.

Abstract: A pivotable control level disposed between a pair of spaced plates, with a motion resisting element mounted on the lever and compressed by the plates to provide a constant resistive force or "feel" to the system operator. A separate adjusting mechanism selectively increases or decreases the amount of compression exerted by the plates on the element to either increase or decrease the resistive force felt by the operator.

Abstract: A head assembly which provides in the rotary scanner body a tape support structure including a scanner opening, a pair of magnetic heads mounted in the scanner opening for the reading and writing of data on a magnetic tape medium, a support member disposed on the scanner body at the scanner opening and extending between the two magnetic heads to support the tape as it moves across the scanner opening, said tape support structure producing a dramatic improvement in signal output across the length of the head scan.

Abstract: A bidirectional transfer mechanism is provided for independent or simultaneous X-axis and Y-axis precision displacement of a mobile component, such as a video cassette pick-up unit for retrieving or returning video cassettes from a cassette library. The transfer mechanism comprises an upright column assembly supported on a machine frame for X-axis displacement and carrying the pick-up unit for Y-axis displacement. A first drive cable is connected to the upper and lower ends of the column assembly and threaded over a first set of pulleys on the machine frame, with a portion of the first cable being wrapped about a motor-driven winding drum for displacing the column assembly in the X-axis direction. A second drive cable has a portion thereof wrapped about another motor-driven winding drum and is threaded about a second set of pulleys on the column assembly and the pick-up unit, whereby drum rotation displaces the pick-up unit along the column assembly in the Y-axis direction.

Abstract: An improved magnetic head structure which places a laminate at the gaps of the head, said laminate deposited on each substrate facing the gap, and comprising alternating layers of first and second magnetic materials, said first material having a higher coercivity than said second material.

Abstract: A coding array usable on a series of cassettes of varying size, the array symmetrically located in a threading area of the cassette with respect to designated cassette reference points, to present the array of each size cassette to the associated recorder at the same relative position, each array incorporating a record inhibit device for the cassette.