Abstract: A cantilever magnetic head support arm assembly for a disk file comprises a flat beam structure and a means of damping the structure against out-of-plane vibrations. The damping means comprises a rigid sidebar extending along one longitudinal edge of the beam structure and a layer of compliant damping material connecting the beam structure and sidebar together. Relative motion between the beam structure and sidebar causes elastic shear deformation of the damping layer to absorb the energy of vibration.

Abstract: The invention relates to recording and reading heads used in the field of magnetic recording.In the case where the same magnetic head serves for these two operations, the invention proposes giving to the two rectangular facing polar surfaces defining the effective air gap, different transverse dimensions, leading to a wide recorded track due to the leakage flux and a narrow read track. This difference minimizes the influence of lateral instability in movement of the mobile magnetic support medium.

Abstract: A power loading/unloading mechanism for tape record/playback apparatus which comprises a gear driven by a motor, a rack member associated with a tape pack inserted; a partly cut-out gear independent of the rack member operation system and interlocked with a cam member for advancing and retreating a head plate; an engaging gear driven by the motor and disposed so as to engage with the partly cut-out gear; a means for keeping the engaging gear from engagement with teeth of the partly cut-out gear; and an engagement operating means for detecting completion of tape pack loading and for putting the engaging gear into mesh with the teeth of the partly cut-out gear.

Abstract: A new cassette tape player shifts its head, with a simple mechanism, from a play-back position to a fast forwarding position which allows detection of blank areas between recorded musical performances. The tape player has a pair of slide cam plates in the chassis. When either one of the slide cam plate moves, the head takes a play-back position. Movement of both cam plates slightly retracts the head while maintaining a tape contact. The tape runs in a fast-forwarding mode, permitting the detection of the blank areas between the recorded musical performances. In cooperation with the slide cam plates, a switch mechanism ensures that a reproducing function of the switch is maintained during the above mentioned shift.

Abstract: A magnetic record/playback apparatus has a head plate and a control plate which are disposed on a tape deck slidably movable in forward and rearward directions. A head is fixed on the head plate and a changeover mechanism for putting a tape driving system selectively into a cue scanning mode is engaged by motion of the control plate. The head plate is formed with an elongated slot extending in the displacement direction of the plates and the control plate is provided with a pin slidable within the elongated slot. The control plate is engaged by a scanning mode operating rod for displacing the control plate forwardly to put the system into normal play or scanning mode and rearwardly.

Abstract: A new tape player capable of playing a normal magnetic tape and a chrome tape. A selector lever is pivotally provided in the chassis. The lever has, at its one end, a bent probe portion. This bent probe portion is urged to come into engagement with a chrome tape indicating aperture to ensure that an electric circuit for a chrome tape is turned on.

Abstract: A video head drum for a helical scan type video tape recorder, in which a rotary head drum is fixed to a rotary shaft by use of a ring member placed over a cylindrical member which is fitted into the central portion of the rotary head drum and substantially fixed thereto and in which the rotary shaft is inserted, and a pair of ring-shaped fastening plates. The cross section of the ring member in the rotating axial direction indicates an outward bulge at the center and the ring-shaped fastening plates are disposed so as to sandwich the bulge. By fastening the ring-shaped plates, the ring member is forced to be compressed in the radius direction thereof, fixing tightly the cylindrical member to the rotary shaft and consequently fixing the rotary head drum to the rotary shaft, whereby correct attachment of the rotary head drum to the rotary shaft, without causing any eccentric rotation of the rotary head drum or vibrations thereof, can be attained.

Abstract: The disclosed suspension assembly (S) for carrying a magnetic recording head in close following relation to a recording disc includes an improved arrangement for supplying a load to the recording head. The suspension assembly (S) includes a flexible gimbal section (10a) for mounting the recording head and accommodating dampened pitch, roll and transverse movements. The head load arrangement comprises a flexible cantilevered spring tongue (10b) and an elongate rigid load member (20) that extends from the free end of the spring tongue to contact the suspension assembly (S) adjacent the recording head. The load member (20) is configured to cause the spring tongue (10b) to resiliently deflect by a predetermined amount, resulting in a predetermined head load being supplied through the load member to the recording head.

Abstract: A head access door mechanism for a cartridge containing a magnetic disc is described. The mechanism employs a bellcrank, located inside the cartridge, to which the door for the head access opening is coupled. The door slides in grooves located along the top and bottom of the side of the cartridge. The bellcrank is spring-loaded and forces the door closed and inward against a seal located around the head access opening. An interfering lip located along the inside of the groove slightly beyond the end of the door when the door is in the closed position interferes with the door so that it cannot be opened by a force applied directly to the door at the head access opening which would tend to slide the door within the groove. When inserted into a disc-drive assembly, a pin in the disc-drive assembly exerts a force on the second arm of the bellcrank to overcome the spring-loading.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a magnetic head at a position corresponding to a reference track for use in a magnetic tape apparatus, in which the magnetic head is moved by a stepper motor in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of a magnetic tape formed with a plurality of data tracks. A detector such as a microswitch for detecting the arrival of the magnetic head at the neighborhood of a position corresponding to the reference track is provided. A control circuit stops the stepper motor for stopping the magnetic head at the reference position in response to the excitation of a previously selected phase winding of the stepper motor after detection of the arrival of the magnetic head at the neighborhood of the position corresponding to the reference track by the detector.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head employing a magneto-resistive element (MR element), which comprises a substrate, a layer of MR element deposited on said substrate and a conductor layer for supplying said MR element with an electric current in the longitudinal direction thereof. The substrate has at least two crystal axes in the plane parallel to the surface on which said magnetoresistive element is disposed. The respective coefficients of thermal expansion in the directions of said two crystal axes are different from each other.

Abstract: A multichannel magnetic head has magnetic circuits for respective channels, each positioned to traverse a magnetic flux to be detected and a Hall element disposed in the magnetic circuits and used as a magnetic-electric converter. The Hall element is an amorphous magnetic thin film which consists essentially of an alloy containing a rare earth element (e.g. Gd) and a transistion metal (e.g. Co). To the amorphous magnetic thin film there are connected a pair of current terminals and Hall voltage terminals. The Hall voltage terminals are provided in the same number as the number of channels.

Abstract: A mechanism for loading and unloading magnetic heads from the surfaces of a magnetic disc is described. The invention uses lift rods which are pivoted about a portion of their length and have offset sections which cooperate with the head lift arms or mounting flexures upon which the magnetic heads are mounted. The lift rods are controlled through other offset sections located along their lengths. These other offset sections, in the preferred embodiment, are pressed against conical surfaces which are oriented so that the axes of the surfaces are in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting axes of the lift rods. Movement of the conical surfaces toward and away from the pivoting axes of the lift rods imparts an arcuate motion to the offset sections of the lift rods with which they cooperate, and this correspondingly produces arcuate motions in the offset sections which cooperate with the head mounting flexures. By this motion, the magnetic heads are gently loaded or unloaded onto or from a magnetic disc.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect type head or an MR head which includes a main portion further having a casing with a recess at its one surface, for providing a bonding surface in the casing so as to be generally U-shape in its cross section, and a magnetoresistance effect type head chip, a support member for a magnetic tape sliding surface and a terminal member for external connection which are all collectively bonded to the bonding surface, and a cover plate further bonded onto the main portion.

Abstract: A transducer positioning system and a magnetic disk therefor for use in a disk drive unit of a data processing system. The magnetic disk contains plural servo sectors interposed between a plurality of circumferentially spaced data sectors. Each servo sector contains at least two sets of spaced servo blocks that include first and second asymmetrical, time-displaced, complementary servo information signals located in radially adjacent blocks. Respective sets of data track centerlines are aligned with the phase boundaries of an associated set of servo blocks in the servo sector. The disk drive unit includes a controller that selects one of the servo blocks and use a null detector to position a movable transducer over a data track centerline associated with the set of phase boundaries of the selected servo block.

Abstract: First and second contact members insulated from and bonded to the respective upper and lower surfaces of a magnetic head which is mounted on an operating member driven from a pulse motor are adapted to get out of the edge of a magnetic tape when the magnetic head is brought to positions corresponding to the uppermost and lowermost tracks respectively. When these contact members get out of the edge of the magnetic tape, they come to contact with a stationary contact member which is provided on the side of the magnetic tape opposite the contact members.

Abstract: A tape cassette having a form and shape wherein the left end portion is asymmetrical from the right end portion and the upper end portion is asymmetrical from the lower end portion. A recording and a reproducing apparatus are designed for exclusive use of the tape cassette having the features presented hereinabove, each of said apparatus containing one or more chambers for accommodating the tape cassette.

Abstract: A magnetic head supporting mechanism comprises a damper placed between a spring operation part of a head-supporting plate spring for supporting and mounting a magnetic head and a holder for supporting and fixing said plate spring thereby damping vibration of said spring operation part by surface friction between said damper and said spring operation part.

Abstract: A tape recorder employing a miniature tape cassette and capable of automatic reversible operation is provided, including a pair of record/playback magnetic heads. One of the heads is disposed so as to be aligned with a track or tracks on a magnetic tape which are available for record or playback operation during the time the tape runs in a forward direction while the other head is disposed so as to be aligned with a track or tracks on the tape which are available for record or playback operation during the time the tape runs in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette for a tape recorder is provided with a cleaning tape advanced in a cassette housing and a dirt-removing element made of cotton wadding, or felt, or synthetic resin and positioned in the housing in contact with the advancing cleaning tape. The dirt-removing element is wetted with a cleaning liquid through an opening formed in the housing. This liquid-absorbing element transfers the liquid to the cleaning tape which cleans the machine components as the cleaning tape is advanced in the housing.