Advancing material of indeterminate length – By orbitally traveling material-engaging surface – With control or adjustment means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2002-06-04
Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3653)
Advancing material of indeterminate length
By orbitally traveling material-engaging surface
With control or adjustment means
C226S194000, C226S021000, C242S615100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398095
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital audio tape recorder (hereinafter “DAT”) streamer to be used as a large-capacity external memory back-up device for computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
The DAT streamer uses a DAT tape cassette, with recording to and reproduction from the magnetic tape carried out by a high-speed rotating drum, that is, a rotating head, the magnetic tape being driven between a capstan and a pinch roller. In the case of the DAT streamer, the recording of data to the magnetic tape involves reproducing the recorded location to verify the recording. Accordingly, the capstan repeatedly rotates in a counter-clockwise and a clockwise direction, with the magnetic tape also repeatedly running in both a forward and a reverse direction.
In the case of the DAT streamer, in order for the recording of data to and the reproduction of data from the magnetic tape to be performed reliably the reverse run of the magnetic tape must be as smooth as the forward run of the magnetic tape. That is, the height at which the magnetic tape runs in the reverse direction in the vicinity of the capstan must be the same as the height at which the magnetic tape runs in the forward direction.
FIGS. 1A
,
1
B and
1
C show a conventional capstan tilt adjustment mechanism
10
in a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral
11
is the capstan,
12
is the pinch roller,
13
is a capstan motor,
14
is a capstan motor support plate and
15
is a chassis. The capstan
11
itself forms the spindle of the capstan motor
13
. The capstan motor
13
is mounted on a bottom surface of the capstan motor support plate
14
, with the capstan
11
protruding upward through the capstan motor support plate
14
. The capstan motor support plate
14
is fixedly mounted on the chassis
15
at three separate locations indicated in the drawings as A, B and C. The pinch roller
12
is pressed against the capstan
11
in the direction of the arrow D, sandwiching the magnetic tape
16
therebetween. When the capstan
11
rotates in the counter-clockwise direction, the magnetic tape
16
runs forward in the direction of arrow F. When the capstan
11
rotates clockwise, the magnetic tape
16
runs backward in the direction of arrow R. The direction in which the tilt of the capstan
11
should be adjusted is indicated by the arrows G
1
and G
2
.
Mounting position A comprises the capstan motor support plate
14
set on a top edge of a post
20
formed on the chassis
15
, with a screw
21
screwed into the post
20
so as to fixedly mount the capstan motor support plate
14
in place. Mounting position B comprises a coil spring
23
fitted around a periphery of a post
22
formed on a top of the chassis
15
, a hole of the capstan motor support plate
14
fitted to the post
22
, and a screw
24
screwed into the post
22
from a top edge of the post
22
. The capstan motor support plate
14
is lifted upward by the coil spring
23
against a bottom surface of a head portion of the screw
24
. Mounting position C comprises a coil spring
26
fitted around a bolt
25
formed on the chassis
15
, a hole of the capstan motor support plate
14
fitted to the bolt
25
, and a nut
27
fastened to the bolt
25
. The capstan motor support plate
14
is lifted upward by the coil spring
26
and pressed against a bottom surface of a head portion of the nut
27
.
Line H is a line connecting mounting position A and mounting position B. Line I is a line passing through mounting location C and intersecting with line H.
Tightening the nut
27
causes mounting location C of the capstan motor support plate
14
to sink, the capstan motor support plate
14
to tilt about the line H and an edge of the capstan
11
to tilt toward mounting position C parallel to line I. Conversely, loosening the nut
27
causes mounting location C of the capstan motor support plate
14
to rise and the capstan
11
to tilt away from mounting position C parallel to line I. In this manner the tilt of the capstan
11
is adjusted and the reverse run of the magnetic tape made the same as the forward run of the magnetic tape.
However, the direction of the tilt of the capstan
11
may in some cases be changed by the force of the coil spring
23
because mounting location B supports the capstan motor support plate
14
by using a coil spring
23
. If the force of the coil spring
23
is weak, then the capstan
11
will tilt in the direction shown in arrow J when the nut
27
is manipulated, and consequently the tilt of capstan
11
will deviate from the proper adjustment direction by an angle &thgr;. As a result, it can become difficult to make the reverse run of the tape the same as the forward run of the tape.
It is possible to prevent the above-described problem from arising by increasing the strength of the force of the coil spring
23
. However, doing so increases the strength of the mounting at mounting position B of the capstan motor support plate
14
. As a result, when the nut
27
is turned the section of the capstan motor support plate
14
bends at mounting position B, changing the gap between the magnet and the coil of the capstan motor
13
and thus changing the torque of the capstan motor
13
. A change in the torque of the capstan motor causes instability in the run of the magnetic tape.
Additionally, the capstan motor support plate
14
is susceptible to external vibrations because mounting location B supports the capstan motor support plate
14
by using a coil spring
23
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus in which the problems described above are eliminated. Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus in which the tilt of the capstan is adjusted smoothly.
The above-described objects of the present invention are achieved by a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
a pinch roller;
a capstan against which the pinch roller presses so as to drive a magnetic tape; and
a capstan tilt adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tilt of the capstan so that the magnetic tape runs substantially smoothly and without damage to the edges of the tape,
the capstan tilt adjustment mechanism comprising:
a support plate for rotatably supporting the capstan;
a first supporting part and a second supporting part for pivotally supporting the support plate with respect to a chassis at positions on both sides of the capstan so as to tilt the capstan in a direction which ensures that the magnetic tape runs substantially smoothly and without damage to the edges of the tape; and
an adjusting screw mechanism for pivoting the support plate with respect to the chassis,
both the first and second supporting parts having a structure that pivotally fixes the support plate at a predetermined height position above the chassis.
According to the invention described above, the first and second supporting parts have a structure that restricts movement of the support plate in the vertical direction, so the tilt of the capstan can be adjusted smoothly in the proper adjustment direction because the support plate does not tilt along the direction of the first and second supporting parts. Accordingly, it is possible to make the magnetic tape behave the same way when run in reverse as when the magnetic tape is run forward.
Moreover, the first and second supporting parts have a structure that restricts movement of the support plate in the vertical direction, so vibration of the capstan motor support plate is not amplified in the event that external vibrations are received and the capstan and an area thereabout acquire a vibration resistance superior to that of the conventional art.
Additionally, the above-described objects of the present invention are achieved by the magnetic tape recording/reprod
Mansen Michael R.
Pham Minh-Chau
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