Abstract: A blocking member in the form of a short member attached to the front face of a cassette housing in front of the guide of the tension sensor of the video tape recorder blocks the movement of that guide to prevent the cleaning tape from being under too much tension which would otherwise slow or prevent movement of the tape through the various guides and heads in the video recorder and also could stop rotation of the video record/playback head drum.

Abstract: A head cleaner includes a generally flat, rectangular sheath 10 formed of flexible top and bottom walls 11 and 12 as is standard in floppy disk construction. The magnetic disk that would be within the sheath is replaced by a flat, absorbent member 17 which has an opening 18 such that it can be mounted on the hub of a disk drive. One of the walls of the sheath has an aperture 22 through which head 34 can extend and contact the absorbent member. A liquid solvent is applied in the aperture to the absorbent member to dissolve built up oxides on the head. The aperture is made wider than standard apertures for floppy disks, and there are additional apertures on other edges of the sheath for providing additional windows. Other windows may be through the other wall of the sheath such that there are eight total windows in the head cleaners. Therefore, the head cleaner can be inserted into the disk drive with any edge leading and with either wall on the head side of the drive.

Abstract: A cassette type cleaning device for a video tape recorder is disclosed in which a cleaning tape is carried on a pair of reels inside the cassette. The cleaning cassette may be inserted into a recorder and the cleaning tape advanced in moving the contact with the recorder heads and tape guides in the manner of a conventional video tape cassette. The cleaning tape has a non-abrasive surface contacting the recorder and is preferably formed from a synthetic suede material having a thickness of no more than about 0.4 mm, with a bristled surface on the side of the tape contacting the recorder heads. An aperture is provided in the side of the cassette housing in alignment with the tape wound about one reel, allowing cleaning fluid to be dispensed through the aperture onto the wound tape to produce an alternating wet and dry pattern, without exposing the tape by opening the cassette access door.

Abstract: A housing of substantially the same shape and size of a magnetic tape cassette is adapted to be inserted within the cassette receiving aperture of the magnetic tape playback/recording unit. Three resiliently biased arms are independently and rotatably coupled about pivotal points within the cassette housing. The disposition of the tape head and the capstan roller of the playback/recording unit causes the capstan drive to initiate rotation of a coupled gear train linking the independently rotatable arms. The surface used to clean the magnetic tape head is coupled to the capstan driven gear, the resilient forces biasing the independent arms maintaining pressure against the magnetic tape head while the housing holding the cleaning apparatus is maintained within the playback/recording unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a device used to clean the magnetic tape head of a magnetic taped recording/playback unit incorporating the use of cassette mounted magnetic tapes. A housing of substantially the same shape and size of a magnetic tape cassette is adapted to be inserted within the cassette receiving aperture of the magnetic tape playback/recording unit. A pair of spring biased arms are independently and rotatably coupled about one of the cassette hubs. The disposition of the tape head and the capstan roller of the playback/recording unit causes the capstan drive to initiate rotation of a coupled gear train linking the independently rotatable arms. The surface used to clean the magnetic tape head is coupled to a planar transfer gear which rotates as a result of the capstan drive, the spring biased arm maintaining pressure against the magnetic tape head while the housing holding the cleaning apparatus is maintained within the playback/recording unit.