Abstract: A thin film magnetic head for performing recording and readout operations to a magnetic recording medium and a method of manufacturing the head. The magnetic head comprises a substrate, a first magnetic layer formed on the substrate, a conductor coil on the first layer and a second magnetic layer formed on the conductor coil and the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer is imparted with a greater thickness than the first magnetic layer to thereby strengthen the magnetic field for recording and reducing the peak shift making appearance in readout operation due to interference between successively read-out waveforms. The thin film magnetic head exhibits an improved reproduction characteristic which permits reproduction with high fidelity the magnetized locations recorded on the medium with high recording density which assures an improved recording characteristic.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording and reproducing thin film head of a structure excellent in magnetic characteristics and easy of fabrication, wherein a lower magnetic layer disposed on a flat nonmagnetic substrate is used as a main magnetic pole, a first insulator layer is formed on the main magnetic pole, a conductor for a coil and a second insulator layer are disposed on the first insulator layer, and an upper magnetic layer which lies in contact with the lower magnetic layer through the first insulator layer at one end thereof and directly at the other end thereof and which overlies the second insulator layer in a part thereof other than both the ends is disposed and used as an auxiliary magnetic pole.

Abstract: A cassette cleaner for a video player/recorder having a cleaning ribbon which comes into frictional engagement with the drum and playing head of the player/recorder. The ribbon has a contact surface with an alternating pattern of raised portions and recessed portions. This lessens the drag created by the engagement of the ribbon with the drum and playing head.

Abstract: A Phillips-type magnetic tape cassette capable of use in the applications of an ordinary tape cassette and also in applications for high-density recording where the tape must be pulled out of the cassette for recording and playing. A front opening defined by a single hole is provided in the body of the tape cassette. The front opening has cuts extending to the front of the cassette from slots which define portions of reference holes. A frame member having apertures for receiving the magnetic head and tape guides is detachably engaged with the cassette body in the opening. The frame member has protrusions which, when engaged with the cuts, form the reference holes.

Abstract: A disc cartridge having a magnetic sheet jacket, a magnetic disc rotatably accommodated therein, and a window permitting the insertion of a magnetic head, is provided with a counter display member which is rotatably mounted in said jacket and surrounded, on the upper side of the jacket, by a graduated display scale and which has a keyhole-like aperture forming a radially oriented pointer and adapted to receive a drive pin. The counter display member is associated with an elastically acting click and pawl arrangement and has a first series of teeth formed on a flange-like portion of said counter display member and a click fixed to said jacket and elastically engaging the teeth of said first series of teeth and is also associated with a blocking device which keeps the counter display member in a firmly locked position as soon as it is mechanically disconnected from the drive pin.

Abstract: In a flexible magnetic disc adapted for mounting on a drive spindle of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus and having a hub structure secured to a flexible magnetic sheet member at the center of the latter and defining a bore for receiving the drive spindle; the hub structure includes a substantially circular metal plate with a central aperture substantially registering with the bore and which, at its edge, defines a pair of positioning surfaces projecting into the bore at locations spaced apart about its axis, and a metal spring also projecting into the bore at a side of the latter remote from the positioning surfaces and located by positioning seats also defined at the edge of the aperture in the circular metal plate for engaging the metal spring with the drive spindle in the bore and securely seating the drive spindle against the metal positioning surfaces.

Abstract: A tape guide system, especially a tape guide system for a magnetic tape cassette, comprising conductive connecting means between the tape guide elements and/or the front and back of the tape, prevents the tape from blocking, slipping from the tape reels, or folding over. In practical embodiments, pieces of flexible conductive plastics film are arranged in the vicinity of the guide elements. The novel tape guide system can be used in any type of magnetic tape transport mechanism in which increased friction occurs when the tape is transported, especially in video cassettes for all systems.

Abstract: An automatic cassette exchanging playback device automatically exchanges cassette tapes for reproduction of records thereon. Cassette reproduction mechanism is elevated or lowered in a vertical direction along a cassette cabinet (200) in which a plurality of cassette tapes (600) are accommodated in a vertical direction. When the cassette reproduction mechanism reaches the position of a desired one of the cassette tapes, a cassette feeder assembly (400) picks up the desired one of the cassette tapes and then loads the same into the cassette reproduction apparatus (500) for reproduction of the records thereon.

Abstract: An adapter for a miniature type tape cassette comprises an adapter case having an external form and size substantially the same as those of a standard type tape cassette, an accommodating part for accommodating the miniature type tape cassette, a tape draw-out mechanism for drawing a tape out of the miniature type tape cassette which is accommodated within the accommodating part, and for forming a tape path within the adapter case, an electrical circuit located within the adapter case, and terminals coupled to the electrical circuit within the adapter case and exposed at a surface of the adapter case. The terminals make contact with a contact of a standard type recording and/or reproducing apparatus when the adapter is inserted into the standard type recording and/or reproducing apparatus, so as to electrically couple the electrical circuit within the adapter case to an electrical circuit within the standard type recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: The cover of a cassette such as a magnetic tape cassette is pivoted in either of two opposite directions to open positions about a single axis. To latch the cover, adjacent each side wall of the cassette there is a cover flange having a circular slot concentric with the pivot axis, the slots in the two flanges extending in opposite directions and overlapping at ends which, in the closed cover position, are aligned with latching projections on the cassette housing. By moving one latching projection out of its slot, the cover is free to pivot in the direction in which the other projection engages the slot at its end. In a flip-over reversible cassette, one unlatching member on the apparatus will engage the correct latching projection, depress and release it, so as to permit the cover to open only the correct direction. When the cover is fully opened, the projection may be permitted to be reinserted, into a recess provided for that purpose.

Abstract: An actuator for a magnetic disk drive includes a planar coil which is symmetrical with respect to the center of rotation and has substantially straight active sections extending from the center of rotation on opposite sides of the center of rotation. Four permanent magnets provide a magnetic field. When current is applied to the planar coil, magnetic forces rotate the coil, and an attached actuator arm, about the center of rotation. The symmetrical coil sections eliminate or reduce torsional forces thereby avoiding vibration, improving bearing life and reducing potential servo loop instability.

Abstract: Static electric charge build-up is eliminated in tape cassettes having a housing with a take-off spool and a take-up spool for magnetic tape mounted in the housing. First and second tape guide support pins are mounted in the housing on the take-off spool side. A stationary metal guide sleeve is disposed on the first pin and an electrically conductive plastic guide roller is rotatably mounted on the second pin. The magnetic tape path through the cassette housing is such that the back side of the tape engages the metal guide sleeve and the magnetic coating side of the tape is against the plastic guide roller. A smooth flat metal member is mounted for electrical contact against adjacent ends of the metal sleeve and the plastic roller to complete an electric path therebetween. This cancels the electrostatic charges on the plastic roller and the magnetic coating of the tape.

Abstract: An actuator for a magnetic read/write head carried by a linear motor has its stator located between a pair of disks within a stack of magnetic recording disks. The stator comprises an array of reversed polarity magnets (preferably permanent) in a linear array. A pair of flat coils are the drive elements of the armature of the motor with the coils arranged in side-by-side relationship for bridging from magnet to magnet in the stator. Thus the armature will not be stalled between magnets. The actuator is controlled by an electronic control system for selecting any position precisely, rather than in steps as in a stepping motor. A microprocessor can be used to adjust control of the direction of motion of the actuator based upon feedback signals.

Abstract: An information record disc for use in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus to provide a plurality of still pictures in a plurality of spiral tracks on a magnetic disc thereof, includes an annular magnetic plate having an aperture therein; and a cylindrical central core made of plastic and formed with the magnetic plate by an outsert molding process in which the central core includes an upper section extending above the magnetic plate, a lower section extending below the magnetic plate and a connecting section connecting the upper and lower sections through the aperture, the upper and lower sections being offset from the aperture, so that an integral structure is provided with the central core and the magnetic plate, and with the magnetic plate thereby having an outwardly extending radial flange which extends radially outward from the central core and to which the magnetic disc is secured and an inwardly extending radial section which extends inwardly of the central core and which is attracted by a m

Abstract: A disc cassette for use in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a jacket having two opposed, spaced-apart panel walls between which a record disc is rotatable. The panel walls have openings adjacent one side of the jacket to define a window through which the disc may be exposed, and a shutter is moveable on the jacket between open and closed positions in respect to the window. A latch in the jacket is disposed between the panel walls and is yieldably urged outwardly in the gap, and a keeper on the shutter is engageable with the latch at the closed position of the shutter for locking the shutter in its closed position. The shutter has an opening in its outer surface at which the shutter is engageable for movement to its closed position.

Abstract: A slider equipped with a magnetic head is pressed on a magnetic disk surface under a constant pressure by a pressing member. The slider is loaded and unloaded by a loading/unloading mechanism. A driving unit of the loading/unloading mechanism has a shape memory alloy member which offers a shape memory effect based on the thermoelastic martensitic transformation, and a resilient member having a resilient force against the driving force of the shape memory alloy member. Moreover, the loading/unloading mechanism is arranged such that when the slide is loaded, the driving force of the loading/unloading mechanism is not applied to the pressing member supporting the slider.

Abstract: An adapter for a miniature type tape cassette has an external form and size smaller than those of a standard type tape cassette. The miniature type tape cassette is primarily designed for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus of a type different from a standard type recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is originally designed for the standard type tape cassette. The miniature type tape cassette has an erroneous erasure preventing tab which operates together with a detection mechanism of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the different type. While the standard type recording and/or reproducing apparatus has a detection mechanism which is primarily designed to operate together with an erroneous erasure preventing tab of the standard type tape cassette.

Abstract: A cleaning element is mounted between guide walls of a tape cassette housing for movement perpendicular to the front wall of the cassette. A spring presses the cleaning element radially against the capstan during normal tape transport past the capstan.

Abstract: A video cassette adapter allowing a miniature cassette to be played in conventional video apparatus is disclosed. The adapter has the outer shape and dimensions of a standard, large size video cassette and has a cut-out portion in one face for receiving a miniature cassette having spools and recording tape extending therebetween normally in a small loop. Guide rollers are mounted on pivotable arms movable by a motor in the adapter for forming a large loop of the recording tape of a miniature cassette in the cut-out portion with a section of the large loop extending along a straight elongated path. Hubs are rotatably mounted for access through a face thereof by and for cooperation with spindles of a video apparatus and connected to rotate the miniature cassette spools to transfer recording tape along the path of the large loop.

Abstract: A safety latch is provided for a disc drive to prevent accidental movement of the pickup heads across the recording surface of a disc when power to the disc drive is terminated. The safety latch includes a magnet which engages a mechanical stop for limiting the inward travel of the pickup head assembly. In a preferred embodiment the magnet is mounted on the bobbin of a linear motor which moves the pickup head assembly.