Abstract: A device for the recording and/or reproduction of data with use of a flexible magnetic disk, or a floppy disk, having information bearing surfaces on both sides. A pair of transducer heads are disposed on both sides of the rotatably supported disk for movement substantially in its radial direction in data transducing contact with its opposite surfaces. One of the heads is gimbal mounted on a carriage slidably mounted on guide rails whereas the other head is gimbal mounted on a carrier arm which is spring mounted on, and biased toward, the carriage. A vibration control system is mounted on the carrier arm in order to minimize its audible resonant vibration due to the data transducing contact of the transducer heads with the magnetic disk. Typically the vibration control system comprises a metal-made, inverted-U-shaped shielding plate mounted on the carrier arm via bodies of rubber or the like in overlying relation to the transducer head carried by the carrier arm.

Abstract: In an apparatus having a pivotable cassette cradle with a record-playback head fixedly mounted on its hinged end, a carriage is provided which is held close to the free end of the cradle when the latter is in a record-playback position and which has mounted thereon a pair of cassette retainer leaf springs and two electrical switch assemblies to be actuated by the tape cassette carried by the cradle. The apparatus further comprises a carriage shift mechanism for retracting the carriage away from the cradle immediately upon depression of a cassette ejector/carriage retractor pushbutton, and an ejector mechanism loosely connected to the carriage shift mechanism for pivoting the cradle from the record-playback to a loading position with some delay upon depression of the pushbutton. When the cradle is manually pivoted back from the loading to the record-playback position, the carriage automatically travels back toward the cradle with some delay.