Abstract: A printing gap adjustment mechanism compensates for the change in the pring gap variation caused by the relative motion between two side walls of the printer frame supporting a platen and two guide rods slidably supporting a print head. The mechanism includes a compensator rod and a pair of eccentric members rotatably mounted in a compensator plate which is pivotally mounted on one side wall of the printer frame. One end of the compensator rod is frictionally secured to the opposite side wall while the other end is rotatably supported in an opening in the other side wall and is secured to an eccentric mounted to the compensator plate. One of the guide rods supporting the print head is located near the platen and is secured between two eccentric members, one of which is rotatably mounted in the compensator plate and the other is rotatably mounted in the opposite side wall. The other guide rod is secured between the two side walls.

Abstract: A supply spindle for a cassette recorder which includes means for reducing the abrupt start-up forces to which the recording tape within the cassette is subjected by incrementally coupling the inertial mass of the supply spindle to the tape upon start-up. The supply spindle includes a shaft carrying a supply head for engaging a cassette spool. The supply head is axially as well as rotationally movable upon the shaft. A coil spring, fixed to the shaft and supply head, urges the head to the end of the shaft. Additionally, the spring rotatably biases the supply head against a stop carried on the shaft. Initially upon start-up, only a portion of the mass of the supply spindle is coupled to the magnetic tape with the full mass being subsequently coupled thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately locating a record-playback head with respect to a tape carried within a conventional tape cassette. The cassette is oriented within a cradle by means of a pair of parallel guide pins which engage the alignment openings of the cassette. A playback-record head is mounted upon a mounting clip which defines a U in cross-section having a record-playback head mounting leg and an alignment leg. The alignment leg defines two alignment surfaces which cooperate with the guide pins to accurately position the clip and the record-playback head carried thereon with respect to the cradle and a cassette carried therein.