Abstract: An ultrasonic tape guide device for use in a video tape recorder, for example, has a tubular tape guide disposed around and supported on a shaft mounted on a base. A substantially flat piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating the tubular tape guide in an axial direction thereof has one surface fixed to the tubular tape guide and an opposite free surface facing away from the tubular gape guide. When the piezoelectric ultrasonic vibrator is energized to vibrate the tubular tape guide, a magnetic tape is guided smoothly around the tubular tape guide with a low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a tape and which is selectively operative in a plurality of modes, such as, a normal recording or playback mode, a fast-forward mode, a re-wind mode and a jog mode; the tape is driven between supply and take-up reels at speeds characterizing the selected mode while being guided by a guide element which is ultrasonically vibrated for reducing the frictional resistance to movement of the tape, and the frequency and power of an ultrasonic drive signal employed for vibrating the guide element are controlled so as to obtain optimal reduction of the frictional resistance to movement of the tape while minimizing power consumption.

Abstract: A tape guide device has a guide member, a support shaft, flanges, a main shaft, a coil spring, a height adjustment nut, and a vibrating device, wherein the support shaft is disposed inside the guide member, the support shaft has teeth facing to a position of a node when the guide member is vibrated by the vibrating device, the teeth and the guide member are fixedly bonded to each other by an adhesive that presents a feature of a resilient member after the adhesive was cured, the main shaft is engaged with the support shaft so as to become freely slidable, the flange is attached to the support shaft with a clearance kept between it and an end face of the guide member and the guide member and the flanges can be adjusted in height under or against the bias of the coil spring by turning the height adjustment nut. The support shaft and the guide member are fixedly bonded to each other by the adhesive that becomes a resilient member after having been cured.

Abstract: A tape guide device comprising a pipe-shaped guide member for guiding a tape, an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating the guide member by standing waves, and a support member for holding the guide member, wherein one end of the ultrasonic vibrator is kept free while the other end thereof is attached fixedly to a vibrational loop on the peripheral surface of the guide member, and vibrational nodes of the guide member are held by the support member, hence stabilizing the characteristic of standing-wave vibration.

Abstract: A magnetic head position detecting device having enhanced miniaturization and improved measuring accuracy. In the device, the output light beam of a light source is reflected by a first mirror so as to be applied to a rotary drum or the slide contact surface of a magnetic head. The light beam reflected from the rotary drum or the magnetic head is then reflected by a second mirror so as to be detected by a light receiving element. Furthermore, in the device, the output signal levels of a light receiving element corresponding to the position of light beams from the rotary drum and the slide contact surface of the magnetic head are subjected to comparison, so that the amount of protrusion of the slide contact surface of the magnetic head from the rotary drum can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: A tape guide apparatus having a cylindrical guide member for guiding a tape, an ultrasonic vibrator secured to the guide member for vibrating the guide member in a standing wave fashion and a supporting member for supporting the guide member is provided. This tape guide apparatus is comprised of a shaft whose diameter is enough to be inserted into the inside of the guide member, a ring-shaped protrusion provided on the shaft independently of the shaft and for supporting the guide member at position corresponding to a node portion of a standing wave vibration of the guide member, and a position restricting member provided on the shaft and for restricting a position of at least one end of the guide member.

Abstract: A magnetic head position detecting device having enhanced miniaturization and improved measuring accuracy. In the device, the output light beam of a light source is reflected by a first mirror so as to be applied to a rotary drum or the slide contact surface of a magnetic head. The light beam reflected from the rotary drum or the magnetic head is then reflected by a second mirror so as to be detected by a light receiving element. Furthermore, in the device, the output signal levels of a light receiving element corresponding to the position of light beams from the rotary drum and the slide contact surface of the magnetic head are subjected to comparison, so that the amount of protrusion of the slide contact surface of the magnetic head from the rotary drum can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: In a video tape recorder, in order to prevent clogging of a head gap without affecting head tracking and tape-to-head fit, a head tip is cantilevered on a rotary drum, and the tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a direction transverse to the direction of the track of the tape.

Abstract: In a tape guiding device for a video tape recorder or the like, an elongated guide element having a peripheral surface slidably engageable by the tape for guiding the latter is fixedly connected, at spaced apart locations along the guide element, with a support or base structure, and an ultrasonic oscillation generating transducer acts, at least at one end, against the guide element for generating a standing wave oscillation in the guide element having nodes at the spaced apart locations where the guide element is fixed to the support or base structure.

Abstract: In a tape loading device in which a tape is drawn from a mounted tape cassette and loaded on a tape path which lies in front of the mounted tape cassette, a big capstan which is arranged in front of the mounted tape cassette is inserted into a space formed between the mounted tape cassette and a portion of the tape which has been loaded on the tape path, from a position where the big capstan does not interfere with the tape which is moved to the tape path, so that it is possible to make the diameter and length of the capstan large.

Abstract: An electronic still camera has a video recording feature and, in addition, an audio recording feature. The electronic still camera can control video recording timing and audio recording timing in accordance with the user's desires. The electronic still camera is also provided with a remote control system which can control video recording timing and audio recording timing in a mutually variable timing relationship. The electronic still camera has a video recording system and an audio recording system built into the camera, a data recording system including a recording medium for receiving video data from the video recording system and audio data from the audio recording system for recording and reproduction, and a remote control system associated with the video recording system and audio recording system for operating the video recording system and audio recording system. The remote control system can be used to adjust the video recording timing and audio recording timing relative to each other.

Abstract: A tape guide drum rotatable about its central axis is provided with a rotary head device including a head support which is flexible, at least in part, and extends radially in respect to such axis from a fixed inner portion to a radially outer portion at which one or more magnetic heads are mounted for movements therewith in directions substantially parallel with the central axis upon flexing of the head support at the flexible parts thereof, a rotary motor having a motor shaft rotatable about an axis extending radially in respect to the axis of the drum, a thrust bearing for absorbing an axial thrust of the motor shaft generated centrifugally in response to rotation of the drum, and a flexible metal belt having an intermediate loop wound about and coupled to the shaft and opposite ends fixed to the radially outer portion of the head support for converting rotation of the motor shaft into the movements of the magnetic head or heads parallel to the drum axis.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an improved longitudinal-type rotary head recording system. The improved assembly includes a transducing head carriage mechanism which may be easily accessed for quick and inexpensive replacement of the recording head assembly. In addition, improvements to the head drum assembly are disclosed wherein air gaps, which may form between the head assembly and recording tape are eliminated.

Abstract: A parallel scanning tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a rotary head drum carrying a magnetic head which forms a given length of recording track on a magnetic tape. The magnetic head is designed to be shifted in axial direction at every cycle of recording and/or reproducing operation for forming a plurality of tracks which tracks are axially aligned to form a series of track trains which are formed at mutually different lateral orientation on the magnetic tape. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is responsive to an operation command which includes an order for deceleration of the magnetic tape to stop, such as a command for reversing the tape drive direction, to temporarily accelerate tape drive speed for avoiding overlapping of axially aligned tracks.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus employs a azimuth-pair-head in a rotary head drum. The rotary head drum is axially shifted by a head shifting means. First tracks are formed on a magnetic tape during forward driving of the magnetic tape across the rotary head drum. On the other hand, second tracks are formed adjacent to the first tracks during reverse driving across the rotary head drum. Since the first and second tracks are formed by means of the azimuth-pair-head, azimuth gaps thereof will have a different or symmetrical obliquity to each other. This successfully avoids cross-talk between adjacent tracks to allow formation of the first and second tracks in a tightly arranged fashion. As a consequence, high-density longitudinal recording without cross-talk between adjacent tracks becomes possible.

Abstract: In a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for use with a disc cassette including a jacket containing a record disc and having a window through which the disc may be exposed, a shutter movable on the jacket between opened and closed positions in respect to the window and a latch for locking the shutter in its closed position, there is provided a loading device for positioning the disc cassette and which comprises a cassette holder having opposite side portions slidably receiving the jacket for the insertion and removal of the latter to and from an operative position therein in which said record disc is engageable by a spindle and transducer on a chassis of the apparatus, a projection extending from one of the side portions of the cassette holder and being operative, in response to slidable insertion of the jacket into the cassette holder, to release the latch and to move the shutter to its opened position relative to said window, and a pawl at said one side portion of the cassette holder and being engageable

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: In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing signals on a flexible disc which is rotatably mounted in a jacket having an indicator for indicating the number of tracks on which the signals have already been recorded, a transducer records and/or reproduces the signals on a surface of the disc so as to form a plurality of circular tracks thereon. The transducer is subsequently moved in the radial direction of the disc to the next adjacent track. The apparatus is further provided with an indicator driving mechanism for driving the indicator of the jacket to shift the latter to a corresponding position as related to the number of the recorded tracks. The indicator driving mechanism is driven in synchronism with the movement of the transducer.