Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head accessory
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-08-28
Evans, Jefferson (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head accessory
C360S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282057
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-203443 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 44 and 45
.
FIG. 44
illustrates the conventional magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus in an eject position where a magnetic tape cassette can be mounted on a moving chassis
301
, and
FIG. 45
illustrates the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus in a loaded position where a magnetic tape is wound around a rotary head drum, and the apparatus is ready to perform a magnetic recording/reproduction operation.
Referring to
FIG. 44
, the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus includes a fixed chassis
317
, the moving chassis
301
, a rotary head drum
318
having a rotary head, a magnetic tape
373
, a supply reel base
303
a
, a take-up reel base
303
b
, a tape cassette
337
, and tape loading members
327
a
and
327
b
each having a rotation guide
329
and an inclined guide
330
. As the tape loading members
327
a
and
327
b
move along guide rails
309
a
and
309
b
from the position shown in
FIG. 44
to the position shown in
FIG. 45
, and the moving chassis
301
moves along the direction indicated by an arrow C in
FIG. 45
, the magnetic tape
373
is pulled out from the tape cassette
377
and wound around the rotary head drum
318
, thereby establishing the loaded position shown in
FIG. 45
where the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is ready to perform a magnetic recording/reproduction operation.
The tape feed posts illustrated in
FIGS. 44 and 45
are configured as follows. The inclination adjustment mechanism is not shown in
FIGS. 44 and 45
.
The inclined guide
330
and the rotation guide
329
are provided on a movable member
328
. A tension detection pin
351
is provided on a rotatable arm
352
which is axially supported about a shaft provided on a moving chassis
301
. A tape drawing pin
354
is provided on a rotatable arm
357
which is provided on the fixed chassis
317
.
Thus, the magnetic tape
373
is guided by the group of tape feeding posts comprising a number of elements, and is wound around the rotary head drum for recording/reproducing data to/from the tape.
A tension detection pin
351
is provided on a moving member (e.g., the moving chassis
301
), and it is difficult to accurately keep the position and the inclination thereof with respect to the rotary head drum.
In the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, it is very important to accurately keep the position and the inclination of each tape feed post with respect to the rotary head drum in order not to damage the magnetic tape being fed. Particularly high accuracy is required for maintaining the position and the inclination of the tape feed posts for a thin magnetic tape suitable for use in long-time, digitized applications.
Therefore, each element of the structure illustrated in
FIGS. 44 and 45
requires a high degree of accuracy in its dimensions and inclination. In order to realize such high accuracy, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the size of the element in order for the element to accommodate a greater portion of the associated shaft, to increase the robustness of the element, and/or to set a more stringent dimensional tolerance for the element. However, these may hinder downsizing and simplification of the mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of this invention, a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is provided for pulling out a magnetic tape from a tape cassette, forming a predetermined tape drive system with a group of tape guide posts while winding the magnetic tape around a rotary head cylinder, having a rotary head, for a predetermined arc, so as to perform recording/reproduction of the magnetic tape. The group of tape guide posts include at least one inclination adjustment tape guide post whose inclination angle can be adjusted.
In one embodiment of the invention, the inclination angle of the inclination adjustment tape guide post is continually varied.
In another embodiment of the invention, the inclination angle of the inclination adjustment tape guide post is adjusted by a rotation angle of the adjustment screw.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes: an adjustment shaft having a male screw portion; and a guide post base having the inclination adjustment tape guide post and a guide hole portion for receiving the adjustment shaft therethrough. The adjustment screw has a female screw portion which engages with the male screw portion and a base abutting portion abutting the guide post base. The guide hole portion is biased in a direction toward the base abutting portion.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the guide post base includes the guide hole portion in an upper portion thereof, and also includes a support hole portion in a lower portion thereof for receiving the adjustment shaft therethrough. The guide hole portion is biased in a direction toward the base abutting portion by an elasticity of a connecting portion between the guide hole portion and the support hole portion.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the inclination adjustment tape guide post has a tapered shape in a lower portion thereof, in which a diameter thereof downwardly increases.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus incorporating a small mechanism with high accuracy and high reliability, in which tape feed stability is greatly improved by allowing for a drive post to be easily adjusted.
This and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4248393 (1981-02-01), Mogi
patent: 4358797 (1982-11-01), Nishijima et al.
patent: 4573090 (1986-02-01), Tsuchiya
patent: 4700255 (1987-10-01), Mitsuhashi
patent: 4709288 (1987-11-01), Schaeffer et al.
patent: 4951161 (1990-08-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5206771 (1993-04-01), Katou et al.
patent: 5395067 (1995-03-01), Kano et al.
patent: 5438468 (1995-08-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5459626 (1995-10-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5461520 (1995-10-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5546259 (1996-08-01), Iwata et al.
patent: 5794874 (1998-08-01), Setsumasa et al.
patent: 0357035 (1956-08-01), None
patent: 372250 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 01317260 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 467371 (1991-07-01), None
patent: 04017151 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 594373 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 785546 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 61-195552 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 61-203443 (1986-12-01), None
patent: 03207046 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 4-129054 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 05020748 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 05028600 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 6-131763 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 07296347 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 2627465 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 09180314 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 9715516 (1997-05-01), None
U.S. Serial No. 09/268,904 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/266,315 filed Mar. 11, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/270,478 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/266,314 filed Mar. 11, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/270,238 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/268,262 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/270,237 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/266,363 filed Mar. 11, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/268,909 filed Mar. 15, 1999.
U.S. Serial No. 09/266,316 filed Mar. 11, 1999.
European Search Report dated Sep. 17, 1999 for Application No. 99105258.0.
European Search Report dated Sep. 22, 1999 for Application No. 99105284.6.
European Search Report dated Sep. 13, 1999 for Application No. 99105327.3.
Hirabayashi Koichiro
Kawamata Kenji
Konishi Akio
Shibukawa Kazuo
Takahashi Hisashi
Evans Jefferson
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
LandOfFree
Magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, with inclination... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, with inclination..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, with inclination... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2507957