Abstract: A disk drive system includes a mechanism for positioning a movable transducer member in the absence of electrical power to the drive system. The mechanism includes a ferromagnetic lever arm pivotably positioned to engage a movable transducer member and, by such engagement, to move the transducer to a predetermined location. An electromagnet attracts the lever arm to a position clear of the movable transducer member in the presence of electrical power to the drive system, and a spring moves the lever arm into engagement with the movable transducer member when the electromagnet is not energized.

Abstract: A blocking member in the form of a short member attached to the front face of a cassette housing in front of the guide of the tension sensor of the video tape recorder blocks the movement of that guide to prevent the cleaning tape from being under too much tension which would otherwise slow or prevent movement of the tape through the various guides and heads in the video recorder and also could stop rotation of the video record/playback head drum.

Abstract: A disc drive arrangement 10 for accessing information from and recording information onto a disc 25 retained in a cartridge 27 comprises a linkage 22 operatively connecting a door 18 to a head 26, 28 mounted on a carriage 24 for urging the head 26, 28 away from the cartridge 27 when the door 18 is opened. The linkage includes an arm 154 with a cam surface 158 which urges the head 26, 28 away in an accelerated manner. A dashpot 188 operably connected to the head 26, 28 and linkage 22 allows the head 26, 28 to dampingly settle on the disc 25 after the dome 18 is closed.

Abstract: In a recording and reproducing device to be used with a disc cartridge, a cartridge holder receives the disc cartridge when it is inserted, and moves between an ejecting position and a load position. An eject lever supported by the cartridge holder is rotated when the leading edge of the disc cartridge is brought into contact with an end of the eject lever, and a spring member is provided in combination with the eject lever for urging the eject lever in a direction removing the disc cartridge out of the cartridge holder.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is proposed wherein a hook arm is pivoted by a free end of one of two pivot arms when the pivot arms are urged by an inserted cassette and are pivoted by a predetermined angular interval, and the hook arm is disengaged from one of the link arms causing the cassette holders to descend when the hook arm is pivoted by a predetermined angular interval, thereby setting the cassette in the recording/play mode. The descent timing of the cassette is predetermined, and the cassette can be stably set in the correct recording/reproduction position.

Abstract: In a magnetic head which utilizes the magnetoresistive effect of a ferromagnetic thin film, it is possible to realize a magnetoresistive effect type thin film magnetic head with favorable secondary distortion characteristics by forming on at least one surface of the ferromagnetic thin film, a grating forming an angle larger than 60.degree. and smaller than 80.degree. with respect to the direction of the electric current flowing through the thin film. By setting the grating into more than two different directions, a magnetic head capable of functioning at a still smaller distortion is presented.

Abstract: A guide system is used with a rotary magnetic recording sheet applicable to a system and method which includes a regulator plate and performs magnetic recording or playback by protruding a magnetic head beyond a regulation level of a recording surface of a rotatable sheet of magnetic recording medium. The regulator plate is located to contact the back surface of the magnetic recording medium and held in such a relative position to the recording medium that the regulation level of the recording surface of the recording medium is protruded toward the recording surface beyond a non-regulation level of the recording surface.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a floppy disc device and including a base, a carrier pivotally mounted to the base, a collet arm pivotally mounted to the carrier and having an end biased in a clockwise direction, a collet attached to the collet arm, a pad arm having an end biased in a counterclockwise direction and a pad, the pad arm engaging under pressure the collet arm, a head carriage pivotally receiving the pad arm, and components for vertically moving the collect arm engaging the pad arm in synchronism with vertical movement of the carrier.

Abstract: A cartridge has a flexible pad which is disposed between a Bernoulli plate and a magnetic disk when the cartridge is inserted into the disk drive. The flexible pad prevents ringing as the disk is rotated against the Bernoulli plate. The cartridge has a slider which is opened when the cartridge is inserted into the drive to expose the magnetic disk for rotation. This slider has a locking mechanism which can be opened only when the cartridge is properly inserted into the drive.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus having a magnetic head and a pad facing the magnetic head such as to form therebetween a passage for a flexible rotary magnetic sheet. The pad is provided with a protrusion which protrudes toward the magnetic sheet along the edge of the pad adjacent the radially outer end of the magnetic sheet. The pad is further provided with at least one inclined surface facing the magnetic sheet and inclined with respect to the plane of rotation of the rotary magnetic sheet, in the direction perpendicular to the line connecting the center of the magnetic head and the center of rotation of the magnetic sheet. The inclined surface is provided at the downstream portion of the pad as viewed in the direction of flow of air accompanying the rotating magnetic sheet.

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.

Abstract: A disc of a magnetic disc cartridge is braked while the cartridge is outside of a receptacle of a magnetic disc memory unit by a radially extending leaf spring mounted on a wall of the cartridge so it has a free end engaging an aperture in a drive platter. The drive platter has an aperture that is engaged by a drive post of a drive disc connected to the memory drive shaft while the cartridge is inserted in the receptacle. The leaf spring is positioned so that the free end thereof is lifted out of the aperture by a post fixedly mounted on the memory unit to release the brake member while the cartridge is in place in the receptacle.

Abstract: A flexible magnetic disc for use in combination with a magnetic head assembly which includes a regulator plate and performs magnetic recording or playback by protruding a magnetic head beyond a predetermined support level of a rotatable sheet of magnetic recording medium at least by an amount which is substantially equal to a total thickness of the recording medium. Assuming that the recording medium has a total thickness of t millimeters (mm) and a Young's modulus of E grams per square millimeter (g/mm.sup.2), a product of the Youngs's modulus E and the third power of the total thickness t, i.e. Et.sup.3, lies in a range between a lower limit of 2.5 g.mm and an upper limit of 36 g.mm inclusive of the lower and upper limits.

Abstract: The respective rotations of first and second reel-rotation detection discs which are rotating in interlocking relation with a take-up reel and a supply reel, respectively, are detected by first and second reel-rotation detection members. The counting periods of first and second pulse counters are determined by the output pulses of the first and second reel-rotation detection means, respectively. These pulse counters count the outputs from a pulse generator for generating pulses related to the amount of travel of a tape. Counted values A1 and A2 are obtained by the counting operations of the pulse counters and supplied to a microcomputer which includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and work memory. The value of A1.sup.2 +A2.sup.2 is determined and this value is compared with specified values or constants representing the type of tape which are previously stored in RAM. In accordance with the result of this comparison, determination is made of the type of tape currently in use.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer head assembly having a support member in which a magnetic transducer head mounting portion, an integrated circuit element mounting portion and a plurality of lead terminals are supported to be a unitary body by a resin mold, a multichannel magnetic transducer head element mounted on the magnetic transducer head mounting portion, an integrated circuit element mounted on the integrated circuit element mounting portion which integrated circuit element includes a reproducing or recording circuit for the magnetic transducer head element, and wiring for carrying out a predetermined electric connection between the integrated circuit element and the lead terminals.

Abstract: In a rotary head assembly in which a rotary member (14) provided with a magnetic head (23) in the gap between the upper and the lower fixed cylinders (17 and 18) having nearly equal diameters and arranged coaxially with each other is turned, use is made of a structure such that the upper and the lower fixed cylinders (17 and 18) are secured in place and supported by a fixed shaft arranged coaxially therewith, whereby more stable magnetic tape running has been realized, while achieving ease of assembling with high accuracy and reduction of power consumption.

Abstract: A head cleaning apparatus wherein in a case formed to the same shape and dimension of a hard case of hard-cased floppy disk a cleaning sheet formed to the same shape and dimension of the magnetic disk of floppy disk is rotatably placed and a cleaning liquid supplier is provided to the case to supply the cleaning liquid to the cleaning sheet as the cleaning liquid is injected under pressure from outside.

Abstract: A magnetic head has a core which has first and second core parts on opposite sides of a vertically extending gap, the core parts each consisting of upper and lower core pieces. The upper core piece of the first core part and the lower core piece of the second core part each have a thickness in a direction extending parallel to the gap which is greater than the thickness of the associated core piece, and each has a portion encircled by a coil. The magnetic head is supported for movement in directions which effect adjustment of the azimuth position thereof, and an arrangement responsive to signals from the two coils automatically effects positional adjustment of the magnetic head so as to effect correct azimuth positioning thereof relative to a recorded audio signal on a single track of a recording tape which is being reproduced by the core of the magnetic head.

Abstract: An operation changing mechanism for a tape recording/reproducing or other electronic apparatus includes a reversible electric motor for selectively rotating a driving gear in opposed directions, a first swinging gear engaged with the driving gear and rotatably coupled to a co-axial second swinging gear with the common axis of the first and second swinging gears being mounted for orbital movements about the axis of the driving gear between first and second limited positions to which the common axis is urged in reaction to rotation of the driving gear in the opposite directions, respectively, a rotary cam member with peripheral gear teeth engageable by the second swinging gear and having a toothless gap that accommodates the second swinging gear to halt turning of the cam member, the shifting of the common axis of the swinging gears from one to the other of the limited positions thereof in response to a change in the direction of rotation of the drive gear being effective to move the second swinging gear out of

Abstract: The safety device for tape cassettes for the positionally correct insertion of the tape cassettes into an acceptance device comprises a tongue-shaped spring element disposed at the floor of the acceptance device, a ramp edge being disposed at the free end of said spring element, with said ramp edge cooperating with the front edge of said tape cassette and being displaceable by said front edge out of the insertion region upon insertion of said tape cassette. A stop piece engaging behind the ramp edge in the direction toward the fastening end of the spring element is connected to the ramp edge, the stop piece interacting with a recess of the tape cassette such that, given positionally correct insertion of the tape cassette into the acceptance device, the stop piece first slides into the recess and, upon continued insertion of the cassette, the front edge thereof displaces the stop piece out of the insertion region via the ramp edge.