Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-23
2004-01-13
Korzuch, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678118
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape apparatus, and more particularly, to a magnetic head cleaner mechanism for cleaning a magnetic head of a magnetic tape apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic tape apparatus is known which has a magnetic head cleaner mechanism for purposes of cleaning a magnetic head thereof without troubling an operator about such work. As a prior art example, a magnetic tape apparatus described in Laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. 328635/1999 will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 1 through 3
.
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the magnetic tape apparatus.
FIGS. 2
,
3
are enlarged views of a magnetic head cleaner mechanism equipped in the magnetic tape apparatus, wherein
FIG. 2
shows that brush
103
is in contact with a magnetic head
101
, and
FIG. 3
shows that brush
103
is spaced apart from magnetic head
101
.
As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the magnetic tape apparatus comprises magnetic head
101
for writing data into magnetic tape
102
and reading data recorded on magnetic tape
102
; and machine reel
106
rotatable by a rotary mechanism, not shown. The magnetic tape apparatus is loaded with cartridge
104
which can wind up magnetic tape
102
and hold wound magnetic tape
102
therein. Generally, cartridge
104
is loaded into the magnetic tape apparatus, with magnetic tape
102
wound up and held in cartridge
104
. At that time, leader block
105
attached to a leading end of magnetic tape
102
is latched on the case of cartridge
104
. The magnetic tape apparatus also has threader arm
116
which comprises thread pin
107
disposed at a leading end thereof for engagement with leader block
105
, and is driven by a driving mechanism, not shown, to move thread pin
107
along predetermined trajectory
107
a.
As cartridge
104
is loaded into the magnetic tape apparatus for recording or reproducing magnetic tape
102
, thread pin
107
is brought into engagement with leader block
105
positioned at an end of the case of cartridge
104
. Then, thread pin
107
is moved, together with leader block
105
, along trajectory
107
a
to the center of machine reel
106
passing by magnetic head
101
. When machine reel
106
is rotated in this state, magnetic tape
102
can be wound around machine reel
106
. Thus, recording or reproduction can be performed on magnetic tape
102
while the magnetic tape
102
is being fed by being wound around machine reel
106
.
The foregoing magnetic tape apparatus has a magnetic head cleaner mechanism with brush
103
which is brought into contact with magnetic head
101
for cleaning the same. The magnetic head cleaner mechanism comprises rotatably supported opening link
110
; closing link
111
; and follower link
120
. Follower link
120
has an elongated hole formed through a leading end thereof, and opening link
110
has a leading end engaged with and slidable along the elongated hole of follower link
120
. Brush
103
is disposed near the location at which opening link
110
is engaged with follower link
120
. Closing link
111
is engaged with opening link
110
such that it is rotated together with closing link
111
.
As illustrated in
FIG. 2
, follower link
120
includes click tab
121
a
which is in contact with click spring
121
b.
A clicking mechanism comprised of click tab
121
a
and click spring
121
b
allows follower link
120
to stay at two predetermined positions, i.e., a position at which brush
103
comes into contact with magnetic head
101
as illustrated in
FIG. 2
, and at a position at which brush
103
moves away from magnetic head
101
as illustrated in FIG.
3
.
When neither recording nor reproduction is performed, the magnetic head cleaner mechanism remains with brush
103
in contact with magnetic head
101
, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. In this state, magnetic head
101
can be cleaned by vibrating magnetic head
101
in a vertical direction to a track direction (vertical direction on the drawing sheet).
In the state illustrated in
FIG. 2
, a portion of opening link
110
lies on trajectory
107
a
of thread pin
107
. Therefore, upon recording or reproduction, after cartridge
104
is loaded, as thread pin
107
carrying leader block
105
is moved along trajectory
107
a,
opening link
110
is pushed by thread pin
107
. This causes transition of the magnetic head cleaner mechanism to the state illustrated in
FIG. 3
, where brush
103
is away from magnetic head
101
.
In the state illustrated in
FIG. 3
, a portion of closing link
111
lies on trajectory
107
a
of thread pin
107
. Therefore, after completion of recording or reproduction, as thread pin
107
carrying leader block
105
is moved along trajectory
107
a,
closing link
111
is pushed by thread pin
107
. This causes the magnetic head cleaner mechanism to return again to the state illustrated in FIG.
2
.
The prior art example described above has the following disadvantages. First, since the magnetic head cleaner mechanism and the threading mechanism are independent of each other, a larger number of parts are required for the magnetic head cleaner mechanism, resulting in an increase in the unit price of the mechanism. Also, for switching the brush to come into contact with the magnetic head and move away from the same, the threader pin must be operated over a wide range. Further, while the clicking mechanism is used for fixing the brush at the predetermined positions, this clicking mechanism may likely cause a transition of the brush between the state illustrated in FIG.
2
and the state illustrated in
FIG. 3
due to vibrations or the like. Such a transition could cause brush
103
to collide with head
101
, for example, during recording or reproduction. Moreover, since opening link
110
, closing link
111
and follower link
120
are moved over a large distance, the magnetic head cleaner mechanism requires a large space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head cleaner mechanism comprised of a smaller number of parts, as compared with the prior art example, which is reliably capable of cleaning a magnetic head without fail even at a low accuracy of parts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head cleaner mechanism which does not require an extra space.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head cleaner mechanism which is free from defective operations even with vibrations applied thereto.
A magnetic tape apparatus, which incorporates the magnetic head cleaner mechanism of the present invention, is loaded with a cartridge which can wind up a magnetic tape and hold the wound magnetic tape therein. The magnetic tape apparatus has a magnetic head, a machine reel, and a threader arm. The threader arm holds a leading end of a magnetic tape held in the cartridge, and leads it from the cartridge to the machine reel and vice versa passing by the magnetic head. After the leading end of the magnetic tape has been led to the machine reel, the machine reel is rotated to wind the magnetic tape therearound, so that the magnetic tape is fed passing by the magnetic head. In this event, the magnetic head writes data onto the magnetic tape or reads data written on the magnetic tape.
The magnetic head cleaner mechanism of the present invention is provided for cleaning the magnetic head in the magnetic tape apparatus as described above. The magnetic head cleaner mechanism has a brush arm. The brush arm has a first portion rotatably attached to the threader arm, and a second portion slidably engaged with a cam groove. A brush holder for holding a brush is attached to the brush arm.
In the foregoing configuration, the brush arm moves following movements of the threader arm for moving the leading end of the magnetic tape between the cartridge and the machine reel. The movement of the brush arm in this event can be adjusted by controlling the pattern of the
Shimanuki Hiroyuki
Suzuki Takeshi
Tanaka Atsushi
Blouin Mark
Korzuch William
NEC Corporation
Young & Thompson
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