Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes a rotating drum unit for recording data to a magnetic tape of a tape cassette or reproducing data recorded to the magnetic tape, a tape guiding member for pulling the magnetic tape out from the tape cassette for forming a tape path, a tape loading member for winding the magnetic tape around the rotating drum unit. The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus further includes a tape guide moving mechanism having a driving force transmitting member configured to transmit a driving force, a supporting base configured to support the tape guiding member, a first arm member having one end rotatably connected to the supporting base via a first connecting pin, and a second arm member configured to connect the first arm part and the driving force transmitting part and configured to rotatably connect to the other end of the first arm member via a second connecting pin.

Abstract: A diaphragm is provided in a pump case so as to define a pump chamber communicated with an external member having an air chamber. A motor actuates the diaphragm to introduce air into the pump chamber and to supply the introduced air to the air chamber. An exhaust valve exhausts air in the pump chamber to lower a pressure in the air chamber. The exhaust valve is provided with a valve body and an actuator which is driven by the motor to actuate the valve body so as to open or close an exhaust port communicated with the pump chamber.

Abstract: A diaphragm is provided in a pump case so as to define a pump chamber communicated with an external member having an air chamber. An exhaust valve exhausts air in the pump chamber to lower a pressure in the air chamber, the exhaust valve being provided in the pump case.

Abstract: A diaphragm is provided in a pump case so as to define a pump chamber communicated with an external member having an air chamber. A motor actuates the diaphragm to introduce air into the pump chamber and to supply the introduced air to the air chamber. An exhaust valve exhausts air in the pump chamber to lower a pressure in the air chamber. The exhaust valve is provided with a valve body and an actuator which is driven by the motor to actuate the valve body so as to open or close an exhaust port communicated with the pump chamber.

Abstract: In an interpose lever (60) for holding in a tape drive (10) a tape cartridge (20) formed with a recess (21) thereon, a movable base (11a) has a protrusion (614) to be engaged with the recess to inhibit the tape cartridge from being released. A release arm (63) is rotatably attached to the base for releasing engagement between the protrusion and the recess. The release arm is urged by a spring (64) in a predetermined rotating direction. A shaft (617) is formed integral with the base to serve as a rotation center member of the release arm.

Abstract: In an ejection mechanism (30) mounted on one side surface (11c) of a drive (10) in order to eject a cartridge (20) from the drive, a damping member (32, 33) for braking movement of an ejection lever (31) by engaging with the eject lever has a stopper (331c) for stopping the movement of the ejection lever. A mounting position of the damping member to the one side surface is adjusted by a mounting adjusting arrangement (331a, 331b, 34). When the cartridge is inserted in the drive, the ejection lever (31) having an engaging portion (311) for engaging with a front end surface (22) of the cartridge is urged in an ejection direction (B) by an ejection spring (37).

Abstract: A head lift mounting a head assembly and having a through hole allowing a lead screw to extend therethrough, comprises a cylindrical portion having a hollow opening formed in the center thereof. A pair of flexible print circuits are arranged in a manner such that the cylindrical portion of the head lift is wound by the flexible print circuits. An actuator assembly is kept vertical on a chassis by virtue of a bearing holder, while the pair of flexible print circuits are extending out through one side of the bearing holder.

Abstract: A recording-medium holder insertion detection apparatus includes a motor which is engaged with the recording-medium holder placed at a first position within a recording/reproducing system, the motor moving the holder in an insertion direction from the first position when the motor is rotated by a drive voltage, and the motor generating an alternating voltage when the motor is rotated by a manual insertion of the holder so as to reach a second position. A detection circuit outputs a pulsed signal in response to the alternating voltage generated by the motor. A determination unit calculates a distance of the holder away from the first position in the insertion direction based on the pulsed signal output by the detection circuit, and outputs a drive-start signal when the calculated distance has reached a predetermined distance between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic linear actuator including a fixed portion with a predetermined axis and a movable portion holding an object, a single guide shaft is coupled to the fixed portion and the movable portion and guides the movable portion to be movable with respect to the fixed portion only along the predetermined axis. A position sensor is coupled to the fixed portion and the movable portion and detects a current position of the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion. The position sensor is cooperated with the single guide shaft to inhibit rotation of the movable portion around the predetermined axis.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linear actuator comprises a movable portion holding an object so that the object is movable up and down with respect to a fixed portion, a guide for constraining the movement of the movable portion except in upward and downward directions, and a base for mounting the guide. The guide comprises a cylindrical bushing fixed onto the base, a guide shaft having a lower end press-fitted into the bushing, and upper and lower dampers directly attached to upper and lower ends of the guide shaft by means of elasticity of the dampers, respectively, so as to limit a stroke of the movable portion and to absorb mechanical shock. Each of the upper and the lower dampers is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber.

Abstract: In order to release a reel hub lock by operating a lock lever (41) in response to rotation of a ring cam (51), a reel hub lock releasing (30) mechanism comprises a seesaw-type release lever (31) rotatably disposed on a back surface of a chassis (12) around a fulcrum part (311) at a center thereof. The seesaw-type release lever comprises first and second plate bodies (312, 313) extending from the fulcrum part toward both sides. The first plate body has, at a tip thereof, an engaging projection (34) engaged with a cam groove (51a) of the ring cam. The second plate body has, at a tip thereof, a lever operating projection (33) which projects upward to operate the lock lever. Disposed around the fulcrum part, a spring (35) is for preventing a part from falling away to fit the seesaw-type release lever to the chassis.

Abstract: In a head protection mechanism (50) for protecting a magnetic head (31) so that a coupled portion of a reader tape (71) is not in contact with the magnetic head, a protection arm (51) is rotatably mounted on a main surface of a chassis (12) close to an actuator assembly (20). The protection arm has a tape passing groove (51a) and an arm portion (514). Rotatably mounted on a back surface of the chassis, a protection lever (54) has one end (541) which is close to a ring cam (62) and which is engageably disposed to a cam face (621). The protection lever has another end (542) which is coupled to a tip (514a) of the arm portion in the protection arm via a hole (12c) bored in the chassis. A spring (53) always urges the protection arm nearer to the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A loading mechanism is for use in a tape drive having a supply reel motor for driving a supply reel in a tape cartridge and a chassis supporting the supply reel motor fixed thereto. For engaging a rotor of the supply reel motor with the supply reel, the loading mechanism is provided a drive gear which is arranged coaxially with the rotor and movable in an axial direction. When the drive gear is moved towards one direction in the axial direction, the drive gear is engaged with a drive hub fixed to the rotor and with the supply reel in a rotating direction. The drive gear is urged by a spring towards the one direction in the axial direction. For controlling the movement of the drive gear in the axial direction, a control mechanism has a ring cum, a cylindrical member, and a drive ring. The ring cam is arranged coaxially with the rotor to be rotatable and has a plurality of cam grooves, N in number, formed on its peripheral surface.

Abstract: A backlash eliminating mechanism is used in a head sending mechanism for sending head assembly mounted on a head lift up and down along a relation axis of a lead screw. The backlash eliminating mechanism comprises a pressing means for always pressing the head lift along the rotation axis of the lead screw. The pressing means comprises a preload bushing located in a middle space of the head lift and has a internal thread engaging an external thread of the lead screw extending through the middle space. A compressed coil spring is located between the head lift and the preload bushing in the middle space of the head lift and presses the head lift against the preload bushing along the rotation axis of the lead screw.

Abstract: A loading mechanism is for use in a tape drive having a supply reel motor for driving a supply reel in a tape cartridge and a chassis supporting the supply reel motor fixed thereto. For engaging a rotor of the supply reel motor with the supply reel, the loading mechanism is provided a drive gear which is arranged coaxially with the rotor and movable in an axial direction. When the drive gear is moved towards one direction in the axial direction, the drive gear is engaged with a drive hub fixed to the rotor and with the supply reel in a rotating direction. The drive gear is urged by a spring towards the one direction in the axial direction. For controlling the movement of the drive gear in the axial direction, a control mechanism has a ring cum, a cylindrical member, and a drive ring. The ring cam is arranged coaxially with the rotor to be rotatable and has a plurality of cam grooves, N in number, formed on its peripheral surface.

Abstract: In an ejection mechanism (30) mounted on one side surface (11c) of a drive (10) in order to eject a cartridge (20) from the drive, a damping member (32, 33) for braking movement of an ejection lever (31) by engaging with the eject lever has a stopper (331c) for stopping the movement of the ejection lever. A mounting position of the damping member to the one side surface is adjusted by a mounting adjusting arrangement (331a, 331b, 34). When the cartridge is inserted in the drive, the ejection lever (31) having an engaging portion (311) for engaging with a front end surface (22) of the cartridge is urged in an ejection direction (B) by an ejection spring (37).

Abstract: In an electromagnetic linear actuator including a fixed portion with a predetermined axis and a movable portion holding an object, a single guide shaft is coupled to the fixed portion and the movable portion and guides the movable portion to be movable with respect to the fixed portion only along the predetermined axis. A position sensor is coupled to the fixed portion and the movable portion and detects a current position of the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion. The position sensor is cooperated with the single guide shaft to inhibit rotation of the movable portion around the predetermined axis.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linear actuator comprises a movable portion holding an object so that the object is movable up and down with respect to a fixed portion, a guide for constraining the movement of the movable portion except in upward and downward directions, and a base for mounting the guide. The guide comprises a cylindrical bushing fixed onto the base, a guide shaft having a lower end press-fitted into the bushing, and upper and lower dampers directly attached to upper and lower ends of the guide shaft by means of elasticity of the dampers, respectively, so as to limit a stroke of the movable portion and to absorb mechanical shock. Each of the upper and the lower dampers is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linear actuator includes an integral formed product produced by integrally forming a plate-like base for mounting a guide and a yoke of a fixed portion. The integral formed product is called a yoke base. The yoke base may be, for example, formed by drawing a plate to serve as the base. It is preferable that the yoke of the fixed portion has a cylindrical portion and an annular upper surface portion arranged at an upper end of the cylindrical portion and having a circular opening formed at its center.

Abstract: In a take-up reel (10) which is for taking up a tape (40) and which includes a cylindrical reel hub (12) having a rotation axis (O) and a pair of flanges (16, 17) attached to opposite ends of the reel hub, each of the pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening (16a or 17a) formed at a center of each of the pair of flanges, the reel hub and the pair of flanges are assembled by press-fitting without using an adhesive.