Abstract: A latch for locking a drive arm of a disk drive in a parking position comprising: a latch stop having a baffle moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a piezoelectric motor operable to move the baffle between the open and closed positions. When the drive arm is in the parking position it engages the baffle and is prevented from leaving the parking position when the baffle is in the closed position and is not prevented from leaving the parking position when the baffle is in the open position.

Abstract: A self-compensating balancer for a disk player is provided and includes a supporting plate fixed to a rotating shaft of a spindle motor for supplying rotary power to a disk. Pivot pins are installed in the supporting plate and two or more pendulums are arranged around the supporting plate. The pivot pins and pendulums are linked by connectors, such that upon rotation of the shaft, the connectors are elastically transformed and a centroid of the pendulums faces a centroid of the disk, centered around the rotating shaft of the spindle motor, due to a centrifugal force.

Abstract: In a tape cartridge of the single-reel type having a hub on which a length of tape is wound, a brake mechanism contained in the hub is movable up and down to apply and release the brake on the tape reel. The brake mechanism and a brake lock release member disposed between it and the hub remain in sliding engagement after the release of the brake, and the resulting friction hampers smooth turning of the hub. Moreover, after the brake lock has been released, the center of the tape reel can be off the center of a rotating shaft of a recorder. The hub of the tape reel has holes formed in its bottom wall for engagement with the brake release plate, the brake release plate is mounted in the hub with legs fitted in the holes of the latter, the brake lock rests on the brake release plate, the brake lock is formed with a dent (or lug) with a spherical end and the brake release plate is formed with a corresponding lug (or dent) with a spherical end on its upper surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of off-track pickup by a read/write head in a disc drive are disclosed. The read element of the head is placed in a separation zone formed between two pole pieces. The separation zone is positioned along with the read element over a current data track. Another separation zone is formed between the two pole pieces at the sides of the read element. This separation zone formed at the sides of the read element is positioned over adjacent data tracks and has a smaller width to prevent the stray magnetic flux from the adjacent tracks from reaching the read element.

Abstract: A direct driving motor for a videotape deck, in which a motor shaft is directly coupled to the capstan axis, and which is controlled by a PWM control, has a constitution in which a stator core and a deck chassis or a head cylinder are electrically insulated with each other. Also, the motor includes a bearing holder for holding a motor PCB (printed circuit board) one end of which is supported on the deck chassis in an insulating state. This constitution prevents current switching noise generating in the motor from propagating into the deck chassis, thereby suppressing video screen noise and audio noise, and also provides a measure for suppressing motor vibration.

Abstract: A feeding screw is rotatably mounted on a chassis of a recording medium reproducing device. A half nut having a semicircular sectional shape is mounted on an optical pickup carriage. The half nut has at least one thread which comprises a thick central portion to be engaged with the feeding screw and thin both side portions not to be engaged with the feeding screw. The optical pickup carriage is fed by a rotation of the feeding screw, being engaged with the half nut.

Abstract: A tape cartridge comprising a housing, a single tape reel around which a length of tape is wound and which is turnably held within the housing, a leader to which the beginning of the tape is secured, and a tape draw-out member by which the tape is pulled out through an opening formed in the housing into a recorder, characterized in that the leader is composed of a pin member, an elastomer clamp which is fitted around the pin member, a metal clamp fitted around the elastomer clamp, and a highly slippery member of synthetic resin placed between the elastomer clamp and metal clamp.