Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-09-11
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S493000, C361S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286759
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a magnetic head, and more particularly, to a multi-head magnetic head unit for recording and/or reproducing information to and from a card-shaped recording medium at high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a practical matter, the automated reading of information from a card-shaped recording medium such as a commuter rail pass ordinarily must be done at high speed in order to be effective. The reading of information from such a card-shaped recording medium is accomplished by sliding the card-shaped recording medium over the surface of a magnetic head unit containing a plurality of magnetic gap portions that read magnetic information recorded on the recording medium. For convenience, hereinafter such a magnetic head unit containing a plurality of magnetic gap portions is referred to simply as a multi-magnetic head, while the card-shaped recording medium described above is referred to simply as a magnetic card.
It will be appreciated that the surface of the magnetic head that comes into sliding contact with the magnetic card should be made from a material that is resistant to abrasion, and conventionally these surfaces are typically made from one or another such abrasion-resistant material.
FIG. 1
shows an example of a conventional multi-magnetic head for reading a magnetic card, in which an anti-abrasion material member is provided at the surface that contacts the magnetic card. A multi-magnetic head
1
comprises a plurality of pairs of holders
2
a
,
2
b
made of a nonmagnetic material, each of the pairs supporting respective halves of a plurality of pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
, the pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
Joined so as to form gaps
3
c
therebetween into which gap spacers
9
are inserted, with the whole assembly contained in a shield casing
4
. It should be noted that magnetic shields
5
are positioned between each of the pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
. Finally, between each of the gaps
3
c
, that is, between each of the pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
exposed in the gap
3
c
, and each of the magnetic shields
5
an abrasion-resistant ceramic chip
6
is inserted into concavities formed in the holder
2
a
,
2
b
for that purpose.
In the case of a magnetic head reading a magnetic card, the edge of the magnetic card hits the magnetic head at high speed. The action of the edge of the magnetic card hitting the magnetic head at high speed, when repeated with a large number of magnetic cards over an extended period of time, causes much wear on the magnetic head, particularly as compared to a case in which a continuous recording medium such as a magnetic tape runs smoothly and continuously over the surface of a magnetic head.
Providing an abrasion-resistant material member between each of the exposed pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
and each of the magnetic shields
5
as described above reduces to some extent the impact of the edge of the magnetic card hitting the magnetic head, that is, the exposed pairs of magnetic cores
3
a
,
3
b
. However, these abrasion-resistant material members are positioned to the sides of the magnetic head and therefore do not fully blunt the impact of the edge of the magnetic card.
In addition, as more information continues to be stored on the magnetic cards and the number of tracks on the magnetic cards thus continues to increase, so, too, does the number of magnetic heads, that is, magnetic cores, with the result that the number of abrasion-resistant material members positioned between the magnetic cores and the magnetic shields also increases, thus complicating the process of producing the multi-magnetic heads and increasing the cost of production as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful multi-magnetic head in which the disadvantages described above are eliminated.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved and useful multi-magnetic head in which wear on the magnetic heads due to abrasion caused by repeated contact of an edge of a magnetic card with the magnetic heads is reduced.
Yet another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved and useful multi-magnetic head in which the number of parts used in the manufacture of the multi-magnetic head is reduced, thus simplifying the process of producing the multi-magnetic head and reducing the cost of production as well.
The above-described objects of the present invention are achieved by a multi-magnetic head comprising:
magnetic members defining magnetic gaps for recording information to and/or reproducing information to and from a card-shaped recording medium; and
an abrasion-resistant member having openings or notches with which the magnetic members are engaged.
Additionally, the above-described objects of the present invention are also achieved by the multi-magnetic head as described above, wherein the abrasion-resistant member comprises a pair of panel-like members having the openings or notches.
Additionally, the above-described objects of the present invention are also achieved by the multi-magnetic head as described above, further comprising a single gap spacer commonly inserted in the gaps.
Additionally, the above-described objects of the present invention are also achieved by the multi-magnetic head as described above, wherein the abrasion-resistant member includes a plurality of members each having at least one opening with which the magnetic members are engaged.
Additionally, the above-described objects of the present invention are also achieved by the multi-magnetic head as described above, further comprising shield members adjacent to the magnetic members that magnetically isolate the magnetic members from each other.
According to the invention described above, by providing an abrasion-resistant material member between the magnetic head and the magnetic card a direct collision between the magnetic head and the edge of the magnetic card can be prevented, thus eliminating wear on the magnetic head caused by contact with the edge of the magnetic card. In addition, localized wear on the multi-magnetic head caused by contact with the edge of the magnetic card can be reduced. Moreover, the need to provide an abrasion-resistant member for each gap-forming magnetic core is eliminated, thereby reducing the number of constituent parts and thus simplifying the process of production and reducing the cost of production as well.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3798758 (1974-03-01), Stamers et al.
patent: 3872507 (1975-03-01), Sano et al.
patent: 4160315 (1979-07-01), Tandon et al.
patent: 4949208 (1990-08-01), Milo et al.
patent: 5519555 (1996-05-01), Naotoh et al.
patent: 5535078 (1996-07-01), Warwick
patent: 5636092 (1997-06-01), Nasu et al.
patent: 6057021 (2000-05-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 2000231704 (2000-08-01), None
Momata Syuuichi
Nakajima Toru
Cyr Daniel St.
Frech Karl D.
Ladas & Parry
Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Multi-magnetic head for a card-shaped recording medium does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-magnetic head for a card-shaped recording medium, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-magnetic head for a card-shaped recording medium will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2443805