Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer assembly in which the thin film MR layer is longitudinally biased directly only in the end regions by exchange bias developed by a thin film of antiferromagnetic material that is deposited in direct contact only in the end regions of the MR layer. A thin film of soft magnetic material extends across only the central region of the MR layer. However, the thin film of soft magnetic material is separated from the MR layer by a decoupling layer which interrupts the exchange coupling so that transverse bias is produced only in the central region upon connection of a bias source to spaced conductor leads which are connected to the MR layer. The transverse bias is produced in that part of the central region of the MR layer in which the bias current and the decoupling layer are both present.

Abstract: An improved self-loading magnetic head slider for recording and reading data on a magnetic storage disk, is characterized by the addition of aerodynamically designed wings used for lowering the slider close to the surface of the disk to a designed head-to-disk separation as the disk is rotated. The magnetic head slider does not contact the magnetic storage disk surface.

Abstract: For the inspection of magnetic memory disks (11) a viewing arrangement (17,18,19) is used which can be mounted on the head arm carrier (16) of a magnetic disk memory in place of one or more head arms. It has a bracket (19) which can be moved between the magnetic memory disks (11) and on which is provided the light admission part or optical pickup of the viewing arrangement (17,18,19). The image received by the pickup (20) is conducted to the part of the viewing arrangement (17,18,19) which is located outside of the magnetic memoryt disks (11) on the head arm carrier (16). There the disk surface can conveniently be inspected.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for a video tape recorder includes a loading arm, a chassis formed with a pair of guide holes and, a pair of loading set members for setting a tape to a loading position which are guided by the pair of guide holes. In the loading apparatus, a single loading arm is provided. The pair of loading set members are reciprocatingly moved through a pair of connection plates.

Abstract: A disk drive which includes an automatic parking brake for retaining the driver arm in a predetermined position when power is removed from the disk drive. The brake is mounted externally to the driver arm, reducing the weight of the driver arm. The brake consists of a spring loaded member held in place during operation of the disk drive by a solenoid acting as an electromagnet. When power is cut off, the solenoid releases the member and the spring biases it against the driver arm and forces the driver arm to a parked position.

Abstract: A disc cartridge made of two molded plastic shells, joined together. Each of the shells have portions of differing molding shrinkage. In an annular embodiment, the outer annulus has the smaller molding shrinkage. In a planar embodiment, the exterior layer has the smaller molding shrinkage. The differing contractions causes the shells to bend outward, away from the enclosed disc.

Abstract: A protective jacket for recording media, in particular flexible recording media, is provided with a network or grid of conductor paths (6) to counteract electric charges, Advantageously, the jacket blank (1) is coated uniformly, in particular on both sides, with linear conductor paths (6). The protective jacket can be used for storing any recording media outside a recording/playback apparatus, or for operating any recording media inside such an apparatus. It is advantageous if, in the areas in which the blank (1) is welded to form a partially or completely closed jacket after folding, a conductor path grid or network is provided so that areas which are free of the conductive layer and are of prescribed dimensions are available between the conductor paths, such areas being necessary for welding.

Abstract: In a Winchester hard disk drive assembly having at least one disk rotatably disposed on a cylindrical spindle, the improvement compromising spacer means interposed between the inner diameter of said at least one disk and the outer diameter of said cylindrical spindle, said spacer means defining a clearance between said at least one disk and said spindle and adhesive means for adhesively securing said spacer means between said spindle, and said at least one disk, whereby a substantially uniform and contiguous clearance is maintained about the circumference of the spindle upon thermally induced differential expansion of the disk, and whereby said disk will be substantially prevented from abutting the outer circumferential wall of the spindle.

Abstract: The tape drive device for a magnetic transfer apparatus comprises a master tape and a slave tape wound about a rotary drum and kept in intimate pressure contact with one another by air jetted from a rectangular nozzle formed in an air guide member enclosing and secured to a magnetic head. During tape running, tension on each tape is controlled to a constant value by tension sensors associated with respective tape reels. When it is desired upon termination of transfer operation to stop the tape travel, the tape reels for a slave tape presenting a higher inertia are braked first. The remaining reels presenting a lower inertia are then acted upon and the tape tension sensing means associated therewith are operated to control the tension to a constant value in the course of simultaneous cessation of the tape travel.

Abstract: A vent cap has a long, narrow air communication passage covering the vent outlet of a sealed disk drive. The passage reduces diffusion of water vapor into the disk drive.

Abstract: A thin-film, cross-field, closed-flux, anisotropic electromagnetic field device for recording images on and reading them from magnetic media, such as a magnetic disk, tape or drum. The device is characterized by two orthogonally related conductors which couple electromagnetically with magnetic coupling structure. One portion of such structure substantially completely surrounds one of the conductors relative to the direction of current flow therein, this portion being anisotropic, and having an easy axis of magnetization that parallels such current flow. With the device in use, this easy axis is intended for operative coupling alignment normally relative to the recording surface in the selected recording medium.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head provided with a magnetic thin film having a magnetostrictive characteristic is disclosed in which a central part of magnetic core formed of the magnetic thin film has a positive magnetostriction constants, and side parts of the magnetic core on both sides of the central part have negative magnetostriction constants. Thus, when a stress due to the patterning of the magnetic core varies the magnetic characteristic of the magnetic core, the permeability of the magnetic core becomes high, and the magnetic stability thereof is improved. Accordingly, a signal reproduced by this magnetic head has a high output level, and is low in noise level.

Abstract: A probe head for vertical recording includes a U-shaped member partially surrounding the probe and a coil supported by the U-shaped member. When the coil is energized, flux from the probe is focused to the region between the legs of the U-shaped member to greatly increase flux gradient during a write operation.

Abstract: A disk clamping mechanism for a disk driving device employed in an apparatus for writing information in a disk and reading the information recorded in a disk, such as a recording/reproducing apparatus, has a rotary system including a hub for centering a disk relative to and pressing the disk against the spindle hub of the disk driving device and a collet for pressing the hub toward the spindle hub, and a nonrotational system including carrier for moving the rotary system toward and away from the spindle hub, a collet supporting member supporting the collet and fastened to the carrier, a ball receptacle loosely fitted in the collet supporting member, and a spring urging the collet supporting member and the ball receptacle away from each other.

Abstract: A linear actuator has a flat box-like carriage movable along an access direction of a disk as a recording medium, a motor coil housed and fixed in the carriage, and a permanent magnet arrangement housed and fixed in the carriage to apply a magnetic field to the motor coil. The permanent magnet arrangement includes an E-shaped yoke member with a central portion extending along the access direction and inserted in the motor coil, a pair of outer portions arranged along two sides of the central portion, and permanent magnets arranged on opposite surfaces of the outer and central portions. The yoke member is arranged in the carriage to be parallel to the disk.

Abstract: An improved magnetic disk drive system including a rotatable disk, a shiftable carriage having a pair of read-write heads mounted by resilient arms thereon for coupled relationship with the disk, and a stepper motor for advancing and retracting the carriage and thereby the heads with respect to the disk. A locking mechanism is shiftably carried by a fixed base forming a part of the system, the mechanism including a locking member moveable between the resilient arms, whereby the arms are spread apart and the heads are moved away from the disk to prevent contact of the heads with the adjacent surfaces of the disk. The movement of the blocking member is a function of the movement of the carriage into its fully retracted position. Moreover, the member effectively locks the carriage against movement when the carriage is in the fully retracted position thereof.

Abstract: A device for aligning a disk contained in a cartridge with a motor and transducer of a disk drive is disclosed. A record disk contained within a rigid apertured cartridge is inserted into a disk drive for use with that disk drive. Insertion of the cartridge into the disk drive causes engagement of a reference surface of the cartridge with a reference surface of a spicule member contained within the disk drive. The spicule member carries the transducer and drive spindle of the disk drive. The spicule member also contains a clamping device which ensures proper engagement of the cartridge reference surface and the spicule reference surface. The result is the proper alignment between the disk contained in the rigid cartridge and the transducer and motor spindle carried by the spicule member.

Abstract: A cassette tape loading and ejecting mechanism in a tape player for playing back tapes using a driving force of a main motor. The mechanism includes a sun gear provided in part of a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the main motor. A stationary ring gear is arranged coaxially with the sun gear. A carrier is mounted on a shaft coaxially with the sun gear and is engaged by friction with the sun gear. A planet gear supported by the carrier engages the sun gear and the ring gear. A slot-in type tape cassette holder is driven by the forward and reverse rotation of the carrier for loading and ejecting tape cassettes. The planet gear engages the ring gear when the main gear when the main motor rotates forwardly and the carrier is caused to turn forwardly whereby the planet gear is positioned opposite to an untoothed portion of the ring gear after a tape cassette is loaded and the carrier then stops to allow the playback of the tape continuously.

Abstract: In a disk unit having a rotating mechanism to rotate the disk by pinching the disk at both sides, and a loading mechanism to bring a read-write head into contact with the disk, a method for driving the disk includes the steps in which, at the time of recording and reproduction, the rotating mechanism and the loading mechanism are actuated simultaneously, and when the recording and reproduction are completed, the rotating mechanism is stopped simultaneously with release of the loading mechanism, or after the lapse of a predetermined time from the release.

Abstract: A changeover mechanism switches the power transmission path from a single reversible motor between parts performing a cassette and tape loading function and parts performing a tape unloading and cassette ejecting function in a cassette tape recorder. The changeover mechanism has a pivotable arm supporting a drive pinion, and the free end of the arm is connected to a shiftable reversing lever through a torsion spring which is arranged to bias the pivotable lever in a bistable manner so that it is moved positively in one direction and then the other, to mesh the pinion with a positive motion cam for unloading the tape and then with a cassette driving gear for ejecting the tape cassette to an unloading position.